Northwestern fans will be able to ride the “Scane Train” once again in 2023. 

Northwestern lacrosse revealed on Monday that Izzy Scane, along with Allie Berkery and Elle Hansen, will be back in purple and white for a fifth year. The team also announced the additions of two graduate transfers – Hailey Rhatigan and Molly Laliberty – for the upcoming season. 

Scane missed the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL but remains one of the premiere players in the nation. In her historic, junior-year campaign, the Clarkston, Michigan native scored 98 goals – a program record – and set the NCAA record for goals per game with 6.12. The former Big Ten Attacker of the Year and Tewaaraton Award finalist has the ninth-most goals in Northwestern lacrosse history and scored the most goals in a single game (10) by a Wildcat on March 19, 2021 against Rutgers. 

With Lauren Gilbert and Jill Girardi – Northwestern’s two leading goal scorers from a year ago – both graduating, Scane’s return is a promising sign for a team that has legitimate championship aspirations year in and year out. 

Berkery will anchor a Northwestern defense that is missing Ally Palermo for the first time since 2017. Berkery ranked second on the team last year with 19 caused turnovers and scored her first career goal in a dramatic, NCAA-quarterfinal victory over Syracuse. 

Hansen thrived last year working off the ball, finishing third on the team in assists (14) despite missing the first six games due to injury. She had plenty of goal-scoring chances as well, converting 18 on the season. Hansen also played a significant role in Northwestern’s Big Ten title in 2021, scoring goals in both games of the tournament. She had a career high four goals in the ‘Cats win over Michigan last March. 

Rhatigan, who played her first four years at Mercer, had a remarkable 2021 campaign. Her 93 goals were second-most in the nation – more than Tewaaraton Award winner Charlotte North who had 92.

Laliberty adds her name to the goalkeeper depth chart that no longer includes Madison Doucette, the ‘Cats starter in the cage for the past two seasons. Playing at Tufts University, Laliberty was a two-time IWLCA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Goalie of the Year and allowed five goals or fewer in nearly half her team’s games last year.