Thursday, May 15
Evanston, Ill.
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
18-2
17
vs
12
Penn
12-7
1
2
3
4
F
Penn
3
2
5
2
12
Northwestern
5
5
3
4
17
Taylor Breaks NCAA Goals Record, Lifts No. 2 ‘Cats to Final Four
5/15/2025 2:05:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. – Madison Taylor scored six goals to break the NCAA single-season record and posted her second straight 10+ point performance to lift No. 2 Northwestern past No. 12 Penn, 17-12, in Thursday's NCAA Quarterfinal matchup at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
The victory sends the Wildcats (18-2) to the Final Four for the sixth straight season. With 105 goals this year, Taylor breaks High Point's Abby Hormes' 2022 record of 103 goals. The Tewaaraton Award Finalist also dished out four assists for a total of 10 points, giving her 146 this year, breaking Hannah Nielson's (142) 2009 school record.
In two NCAA Tournament games, Taylor has 16 goals and five assists for 21 total points.
The Wildcats came out firing, netting the first four goals of the contest. Lucy Munro scored twice in a 54-second span to get things started. Taylor Lapointe made it 3-0 before Taylor's school-record 100th goal of the season staked the 'Cats to a 4-0 lead with 8:26 left in the first. Taylor scored again with 5:25 left in the quarter, but the Quakers scored three of the last four to cut the Wildcats' lead to 5-3 after 15 minutes.
Northwestern surged again at the start of the second quarter, netting three straight goals from Lapointe, Emerson Bohlig and Taylor to extend the lead to 8-3 with 8:13 remaining in the half. After a Penn tally, Taylor found Abby LoCascio and then netted her fourth goal of the day 1:30 later to bump the score to 10-4. The 'Cats led 10-5 at halftime.
Taylor's free position goal broke Hormes' NCAA record and put Northwestern up 11-7 with 10:40 left in the third. However, the Quakers found life in the second half, scoring five of the first six goals in the frame to pull to within 11-10 with 4:48 in the third quarter.
The 'Cats dug down after the Quakers controlled the ensuing draw as Bohlig caused a quick turnover and Niki Miles stopped the run with 3:35 left in the quarter. Taylor's sixth of the game gave NU some more breathing room at 13-10 after three.
Goals by Riley Campbell and Miles 1:46 apart pushed Northwestern's lead back to five (15-10). Taylor picked up her fourth assist of the day on Campbell's tally. The Northwestern lead never got below three goals for the rest of the game as it extends its winning streak to 10 games.
Northwestern dominated possession, thanks to a 23-10 edge in draw controls, led by Sam Smith's 15. In addition to Taylor's exploits, Miles, Munro, Lapointe and Aditi Foster each scored two goals. Delaney Sweitzer made six saves to improve to 16-2 in net for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats square off against the winner of the quarterfinal tilt between Boston College and Yale on Friday, May 23, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The game will air on ESPNU with a start time to be determined.
The victory sends the Wildcats (18-2) to the Final Four for the sixth straight season. With 105 goals this year, Taylor breaks High Point's Abby Hormes' 2022 record of 103 goals. The Tewaaraton Award Finalist also dished out four assists for a total of 10 points, giving her 146 this year, breaking Hannah Nielson's (142) 2009 school record.
Count 'Em ??
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 15, 2025
Nobody has scored more goals in a year than Maddy Taylor ?? pic.twitter.com/xa0AENjH5n
In two NCAA Tournament games, Taylor has 16 goals and five assists for 21 total points.
The Wildcats came out firing, netting the first four goals of the contest. Lucy Munro scored twice in a 54-second span to get things started. Taylor Lapointe made it 3-0 before Taylor's school-record 100th goal of the season staked the 'Cats to a 4-0 lead with 8:26 left in the first. Taylor scored again with 5:25 left in the quarter, but the Quakers scored three of the last four to cut the Wildcats' lead to 5-3 after 15 minutes.
Northwestern surged again at the start of the second quarter, netting three straight goals from Lapointe, Emerson Bohlig and Taylor to extend the lead to 8-3 with 8:13 remaining in the half. After a Penn tally, Taylor found Abby LoCascio and then netted her fourth goal of the day 1:30 later to bump the score to 10-4. The 'Cats led 10-5 at halftime.
Taylor's free position goal broke Hormes' NCAA record and put Northwestern up 11-7 with 10:40 left in the third. However, the Quakers found life in the second half, scoring five of the first six goals in the frame to pull to within 11-10 with 4:48 in the third quarter.
FINAL FOUR BOUND ?? #CatsWin
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 15, 2025
See you in Foxborough! pic.twitter.com/wvatAVf3H5
The 'Cats dug down after the Quakers controlled the ensuing draw as Bohlig caused a quick turnover and Niki Miles stopped the run with 3:35 left in the quarter. Taylor's sixth of the game gave NU some more breathing room at 13-10 after three.
Goals by Riley Campbell and Miles 1:46 apart pushed Northwestern's lead back to five (15-10). Taylor picked up her fourth assist of the day on Campbell's tally. The Northwestern lead never got below three goals for the rest of the game as it extends its winning streak to 10 games.
Northwestern dominated possession, thanks to a 23-10 edge in draw controls, led by Sam Smith's 15. In addition to Taylor's exploits, Miles, Munro, Lapointe and Aditi Foster each scored two goals. Delaney Sweitzer made six saves to improve to 16-2 in net for the Wildcats.
POV: You just advanced to the semifinals ??? pic.twitter.com/YXT7abZJTp
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 15, 2025
The Wildcats square off against the winner of the quarterfinal tilt between Boston College and Yale on Friday, May 23, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The game will air on ESPNU with a start time to be determined.
Team Stats
PENN
NU
Shots
22
32
Turnovers
16
18
Caused Turnovers
11
11
Draw Controls
10
23
Free-Position Shots
2
4
Ground Balls
19
17
Game Leaders
Players
G
6
A
4
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - 'Cats Fall to North Carolina in National Championship Game
Sunday, May 25
Lacrosse - NCAA Semifinal Postgame Press Conference (5/23/25)
Saturday, May 24
Lacrosse - Comeback 'Cats Take Down Boston College, 12-11, Advance to National Title Game (5/23/25)
Saturday, May 24
Lacrosse - Maddy Taylor Breaks NCAA Goals Record in Quarterfinal Win (5/15/25)
Thursday, May 15
