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Some dreams and wishes don’t come true — a reality of life. Such was the case for the young women of Boston College’s defending national championship lacrosse team.
Their dream was to repeat as national champions, which would have placed them in legendary company with the all-time great programs of their sport. Entering the Final Four competition of this year’s NCAA Division 1 lacrosse championships, the second ranked Eagles had their sights set on a title game matchup with the undefeated No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels.
The two teams met twice during the regular season, with Carolina emerging victorious by the slimmest of margins, 12-11 and 14-12. The Tar Heels did their part, pounding the Florida Gators 20-4 to reach the title game. Boston College would have to defeat Northwestern to set up a third game against Carolina.
Eagles attacker Rachel Scott heads to the goal. PHOTO: JOHN MCCLURE
Boston College and Northwestern met in last year’s NCAA title game, with BC rallying from a 6-0 deficit enroute to a 14-13 victory for their second national lacrosse title in three years. For three-quarters of their semi-final matchup, it was all Eagles. They took an 11-6 lead into the final 15 minutes of play. But the Wildcats showed their grit and championship DNA — eight national titles in school history — with a rally for the ages.
All-American Morgan Taylor led her team back from the depths of defeat, scoring key goals and setting up her teammates as the Wildcats staged their stellar comeback. BC did all it could to stem the tide of Northwestern but couldn’t do it.
With the score tied at 11, Sam Smith scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 5:28 left to play in regulation to push Northwestern to a stunning 12-11 win to avenge last year’s title loss to Boston College while advancing to the national championship game against North Carolina.
The Eagles’ shocking loss was evident in the tears of their players. This team wanted a third shot at North Carolina, feeling that the adage “third time’s a charm” would be in their favor, and a dream of a repeat national championship could be theirs. But the dream faded in the evening air of Gillette Stadium.
The title tilt between North Carolina and Northwestern turned out to be the coronation of Tar Heels freshman sensation Chloe Humphrey, the “Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four,” who put on a star-studded performance while leading her squad to the fourth national title in school history. Humphrey, with a freshman record-setting 90-goal season, saved her best for the biggest stage, scoring four goals with one assist to lead her team to a 12-8 triumph, completing a perfect 22-win, 0-loss campaign.
Wildcat defender Samy Smith Chases down UNC’s Marissa White. PHOTO: NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS
“I celebrate this victory with my teammates, especially my two older sisters, Nicole and Ashley, who helped to make this a dream season,” said Humphrey. “This is a very special team and a very special moment that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Echoing her younger sister’s sentiments, older sister Nicole, a member of the 2022 UNC national championship team, said, “This is a dream come true. Winning a national title with my two younger sisters makes this all so special.”
It was also a special moment for UNC’s head coach, Jenny Levy, who, along with daughter Kate, became the first mother/daughter duo to win a national championship.
“Coming off an injury-riddled season last year, this team was determined to show its toughness this entire season,” said Coach Levy. “Our motto was don’t survive anything but thrive in everything.”
For the record, this Tar Heels team thrived in every challenge put forth to them. And while many feel that a matchup with Boston College would have produced a more compelling championship game, tremendous credit must be given to Northwestern, who put up a great fight against the heavily talented UNC team.
Backed by the spectacular goaltending of Delaney Sweitzer, who set a school record with 17 saves, Northwestern kept the game competitive throughout. But in the end, the Tar Heels were just too strong, especially their team defense, which put the clamps on Wildcat star Morgan Taylor, who was shut out for the first time in 45 games.
And while all this was taking place, the Boston College Eagles watched and wondered what might have been if they had gotten just one more chance at North Carolina.
Acacia Walker, the BC coach, said, “We would have loved to have gotten a third crack at North Carolina. It would have been a dream matchup for my team, but it wasn’t meant to be. Northwestern beat us, putting an end to our dream of back-to-back national lacrosse titles. Their comeback against us was epic and will be remembered for many years to come.”
As stated at the beginning of this article, some dreams and wishes just don’t come true.
Top-seeded Cornell turned back the challenge of No. 2 seed Maryland, 13-10, to win the NCAA Division 1 men’s lacrosse championship, the first for the school since 1977. C.J. Kirst, “Most Outstanding Player” for the Final Four competition, scored five goals for the winners, capping off a season with 82 goals, tying the single season record in Division 1 history.
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