Friday, May 23
Foxborough, Mass.
4:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
19-2
12
vs
11
Boston College
19-3
1
2
3
4
F
Northwestern
4
2
0
6
12
Boston College
3
4
4
0
11
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Comeback ‘Cats Make Third-Straight NCAA Final
5/23/2025 7:48:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Northwestern stormed back with six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to top No. 3 Boston College, 12-11, in the NCAA semifinal to punch the Wildcats' third-consecutive trip to the national championship.
After scoring just one goal over a 28:35 span and falling behind 11-6 through three quarters, Northwestern (19-2) outscored Boston College (19-3), 6-0, in the fourth quarter. Madison Taylor (4 goals, 4 assists) posted three of her game-high eight points in the final 15 minutes, netting two goals and an assist on the game-winning tally.
The Wildcats' dominance on draw controls (19-8) fueled the comeback as they won six of seven draws in the final 15 minutes. In a fitting finish given NU's stellar play in the draw circle, draw specialist Sam Smith converted Taylor's feed with 5:26 left to play to avenge both its 13-9 home loss to Boston College on Feb. 15 and 14-13 setback in last year's NCAA title game.
In a battle of the nation's top two goal scorers, Taylor outdueled BC's Rachel Clark (3 goals) and now has 29 points (20 goals, 9 assists) in three NCAA Tournament games to send the 'Cats to their third-straight national championship game. The Tewaaraton Award finalist also added six draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover in what marks Northwestern's 11th-straight win. The eight points give her 154 this season, passing Maryland's Jen Adams' (148) 2001 total for the third most in a single season.
The 'Cats got off to a hot start, which Taylor began. After Jaylen Rosga forced a turnover, the Tewaaraton Award finalist scooped up the groundball and fired home her 106th goal of the season in transition to open the scoring 2:23 into the contest. Taylor then fed Niki Miles 3:31 later for her 41st tally, and the graduate transfer scored again 30 seconds later to stake Northwestern to a 3-0 lead with 9:06 left in the quarter.
Leading 3-1, Taylor dished out another assist through a double team and Riley Campbell made it a 4-1 game with 4:05 left in the frame. The Eagles countered with a pair of Rachel Clark goals to cut the gap to 4-3 after 15 minutes. Emma LoPinto tied it up 1:01 into the second quarter to extend the run to 3-0.
A Taylor free position goal 39 seconds later put Northwestern back in front, but Clark answered 45 seconds later to square it up again at 5-5.
Mckenna Davis gave the Eagles their first lead with 6:56 left in the half and a Mallory Hasselbeck goal made it 7-5 2:31 later. Emerson Bohlig finally broke a 13:11 scoring drought by slipping a shot home right before the half off another Taylor assist, cutting the deficit to 7-6 at halftime.
That score held past the midway point of the third, with BC goalie Shea Dolce stopping a free position shot to keep the Eagles in front. The Eagles ended up netting all four goals in the third quarter to take an 11-6 lead into the fourth.
Up two players, Lucy Munro scored off a Miles assist 15 seconds into the final period to start the comeback bid, then Taylor completed her hat trick off a free position 1:15 later to pull the Wildcats to within 11-8 with 13:30 to play.
After Northwestern forced a shot clock violation, Aditi Foster converted from in close with 8:43 showing and Taylor fired home a free position again to bring the 'Cats within a goal (11-10) with 7:59 left. Campbell scooped up the ensuing draw control and tied it up off a Bohlig feed to level the score at 11-11 with 7:21 left in regulation.
Boston College went a player up after the tying goal, but Delaney Sweitzer made a key save and Northwestern killed off the penalty. After getting set up offensively, Smith fired home a Taylor feed to put the Wildcats back in front, 12-11, with 5:26 left.
Despite no goals in the final 5:26, the home stretch of the game featured plenty of action. Dolce prevented NU from gaining breathing room by stopping a free position shot a minute after Smith's go-ahead tally, giving BC an opportunity to tie it up. The Wildcats' defense stepped it up, forcing turnovers on three-straight Eagles possessions.
Down a player, BC forced an NU turnover in the closing seconds and set up Mascone for a shot with four seconds remaining, but Sweitzer stood tall to send the Wildcats to Sunday's final. The graduate goalie made eight saves in the semifinal and stopped all three shots she faced in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats aim for their ninth national championship in program history on Sunday when they take on No. 1 North Carolina to avenge their only other loss this year. Opening draw is at 11 a.m. CT and the game will be televised live on ESPN.
After scoring just one goal over a 28:35 span and falling behind 11-6 through three quarters, Northwestern (19-2) outscored Boston College (19-3), 6-0, in the fourth quarter. Madison Taylor (4 goals, 4 assists) posted three of her game-high eight points in the final 15 minutes, netting two goals and an assist on the game-winning tally.
THE DREAM IS ALIVE ?? #CATSWIN pic.twitter.com/iatjBwWvBU
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 24, 2025
The Wildcats' dominance on draw controls (19-8) fueled the comeback as they won six of seven draws in the final 15 minutes. In a fitting finish given NU's stellar play in the draw circle, draw specialist Sam Smith converted Taylor's feed with 5:26 left to play to avenge both its 13-9 home loss to Boston College on Feb. 15 and 14-13 setback in last year's NCAA title game.
In a battle of the nation's top two goal scorers, Taylor outdueled BC's Rachel Clark (3 goals) and now has 29 points (20 goals, 9 assists) in three NCAA Tournament games to send the 'Cats to their third-straight national championship game. The Tewaaraton Award finalist also added six draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover in what marks Northwestern's 11th-straight win. The eight points give her 154 this season, passing Maryland's Jen Adams' (148) 2001 total for the third most in a single season.
The 'Cats got off to a hot start, which Taylor began. After Jaylen Rosga forced a turnover, the Tewaaraton Award finalist scooped up the groundball and fired home her 106th goal of the season in transition to open the scoring 2:23 into the contest. Taylor then fed Niki Miles 3:31 later for her 41st tally, and the graduate transfer scored again 30 seconds later to stake Northwestern to a 3-0 lead with 9:06 left in the quarter.
hey @journeyofficial, we didn't stop believin'. not once. pic.twitter.com/p1yZ2m4pVg
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 24, 2025
Leading 3-1, Taylor dished out another assist through a double team and Riley Campbell made it a 4-1 game with 4:05 left in the frame. The Eagles countered with a pair of Rachel Clark goals to cut the gap to 4-3 after 15 minutes. Emma LoPinto tied it up 1:01 into the second quarter to extend the run to 3-0.
A Taylor free position goal 39 seconds later put Northwestern back in front, but Clark answered 45 seconds later to square it up again at 5-5.
Mckenna Davis gave the Eagles their first lead with 6:56 left in the half and a Mallory Hasselbeck goal made it 7-5 2:31 later. Emerson Bohlig finally broke a 13:11 scoring drought by slipping a shot home right before the half off another Taylor assist, cutting the deficit to 7-6 at halftime.
That score held past the midway point of the third, with BC goalie Shea Dolce stopping a free position shot to keep the Eagles in front. The Eagles ended up netting all four goals in the third quarter to take an 11-6 lead into the fourth.
Up two players, Lucy Munro scored off a Miles assist 15 seconds into the final period to start the comeback bid, then Taylor completed her hat trick off a free position 1:15 later to pull the Wildcats to within 11-8 with 13:30 to play.
Never a doubt. pic.twitter.com/kmHWWzK74Z
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 24, 2025
After Northwestern forced a shot clock violation, Aditi Foster converted from in close with 8:43 showing and Taylor fired home a free position again to bring the 'Cats within a goal (11-10) with 7:59 left. Campbell scooped up the ensuing draw control and tied it up off a Bohlig feed to level the score at 11-11 with 7:21 left in regulation.
Boston College went a player up after the tying goal, but Delaney Sweitzer made a key save and Northwestern killed off the penalty. After getting set up offensively, Smith fired home a Taylor feed to put the Wildcats back in front, 12-11, with 5:26 left.
Despite no goals in the final 5:26, the home stretch of the game featured plenty of action. Dolce prevented NU from gaining breathing room by stopping a free position shot a minute after Smith's go-ahead tally, giving BC an opportunity to tie it up. The Wildcats' defense stepped it up, forcing turnovers on three-straight Eagles possessions.
BELIEVED IT. ACHIEVED IT. ?? pic.twitter.com/mOLYSkKNTj
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 24, 2025
Down a player, BC forced an NU turnover in the closing seconds and set up Mascone for a shot with four seconds remaining, but Sweitzer stood tall to send the Wildcats to Sunday's final. The graduate goalie made eight saves in the semifinal and stopped all three shots she faced in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats aim for their ninth national championship in program history on Sunday when they take on No. 1 North Carolina to avenge their only other loss this year. Opening draw is at 11 a.m. CT and the game will be televised live on ESPN.
Team Stats
NU
BC
Shots
33
28
Turnovers
18
15
Caused Turnovers
11
14
Draw Controls
19
8
Free-Position Shots
8
5
Ground Balls
20
21
Game Leaders
Players
G
4
A
4
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
1
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ 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
