Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Mason Flick/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern to host second ‘Lacrosse Day in Chicago’
1/14/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern Lacrosse will host a one-of-a-kind event along the Lake Michigan shoreline, welcoming fans to the second annual Lacrosse Day in Chicago on Saturday, April 4 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. In partnership with Notre Dame men's lacrosse, the lakefront event will showcase both the men's and women's games in a rare doubleheader setting.
The event will be a double-header, with Northwestern facing USC in a Big Ten matchup on the women's side, while the Notre Dame's men's lacrosse team will take on Richmond. It will feature some of the collegiate game's biggest stars, including two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist Madison Taylor and reigning William C. Schmeisser Co-Defenseman of the Year Shawn Lyght.
"This is a unique and amazing opportunity to bring together men's and women's lacrosse together in a festival environment on beautiful Lake Michigan," Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. "The Northwestern Women and the Notre Dame Men are the first two teams to bring championships to the Midwest, and it is fitting to bring our programs together to showcase the power and growth of the sport."
"The Midwest has embraced lacrosse in a powerful way, and we're excited to celebrate that momentum by hosting Lacrosse Day in Chicago on our lakefront," said Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Mark Jackson. "We are grateful for Notre Dame's partnership, which will help elevate the sport, provide meaningful exposure for our venue, and bring people to campus to experience what makes Northwestern such a special place."
Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, which will play host to the 2026 NCAA DI Women's Lacrosse Tournament Championship rounds on May 22 and 24, is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan and is the home of Northwestern lacrosse and soccer — as well as the primary home of Wildcat football in 2024 and 2025. It is the first venue outside of the eastern time zone to host an NCAA DI Women's Lacrosse National Championship.
Amonte Hiller, who guided the Wildcats back to the Division I varsity level in 2002, has led Northwestern to 21 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2004. The Wildcats became the first program outside of the eastern time zone to win a national championship in 2005 and went on to win national titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2023.
During last season's inaugural Lacrosse Day in Chicago, Northwestern defeated Michigan 15-6 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium to clinch its third consecutive Big Ten regular-season title on April 17, 2025. A program-record 3,503 fans attended the game.
This year's event marks the first time Division I men's lacrosse will be played in the venue. The Fighting Irish, coached by Kevin Corrigan, have won two of the last three national championships (2023, 2024) and made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances. Notre Dame will clash with the reigning A-10 Conference Champion Spiders, who have made six NCAA Tournament appearances.
"We're excited to partner with the NU lacrosse program to bring a great day of men's and women's lacrosse to the Chicago area," Corrigan said. "Both programs are passionate about growing the game at all levels — which means not just playing the game at its highest level — but bringing the full lacrosse community together to celebrate a day of competitive excellence."
The event will serve as a homecoming for Trojans coach Lindsey Munday. A two-time national champion as a player (2005, 2006) and three-time national title winner as a Wildcat assistant (2007-2009), Munday was hired as USC's first-ever coach in 2011.
This past summer, Munday coached the U.S. Women's Sixes National Team squad featuring Wildcat alum Izzy Scane to a gold medal at The World Games in Chengdu, China.
Northwestern and USC have faced off seven times since 2013, with the Wildcats holding a 5-2 historical record. The Trojans haven't played in Evanston since the 2018 season.
Lacrosse Day in Chicago is Northwestern's first scheduled outdoor home game of the 2026 campaign, with seven prior contests inside Ryan Fieldhouse. It will mark one of two regular season matchups at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
"We hope that fans from all over the Midwest and beyond will show up for Lacrosse Day in Chicago and see why the sport of lacrosse can set your heart on fire," Amonte Hiller said.
The event will be a double-header, with Northwestern facing USC in a Big Ten matchup on the women's side, while the Notre Dame's men's lacrosse team will take on Richmond. It will feature some of the collegiate game's biggest stars, including two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist Madison Taylor and reigning William C. Schmeisser Co-Defenseman of the Year Shawn Lyght.
"This is a unique and amazing opportunity to bring together men's and women's lacrosse together in a festival environment on beautiful Lake Michigan," Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. "The Northwestern Women and the Notre Dame Men are the first two teams to bring championships to the Midwest, and it is fitting to bring our programs together to showcase the power and growth of the sport."
LACROSSE DAY IN CHICAGO??
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) January 14, 2026
Join us on the lake for a doubleheader!
The Notre Dame Men take on Richmond followed by a Big Ten battle between the Northwestern Women and USC!
Tickets: https://t.co/R3jaDQ9Poj pic.twitter.com/drDRuAN4hK
"The Midwest has embraced lacrosse in a powerful way, and we're excited to celebrate that momentum by hosting Lacrosse Day in Chicago on our lakefront," said Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Mark Jackson. "We are grateful for Notre Dame's partnership, which will help elevate the sport, provide meaningful exposure for our venue, and bring people to campus to experience what makes Northwestern such a special place."
Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, which will play host to the 2026 NCAA DI Women's Lacrosse Tournament Championship rounds on May 22 and 24, is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan and is the home of Northwestern lacrosse and soccer — as well as the primary home of Wildcat football in 2024 and 2025. It is the first venue outside of the eastern time zone to host an NCAA DI Women's Lacrosse National Championship.
Amonte Hiller, who guided the Wildcats back to the Division I varsity level in 2002, has led Northwestern to 21 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2004. The Wildcats became the first program outside of the eastern time zone to win a national championship in 2005 and went on to win national titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2023.
During last season's inaugural Lacrosse Day in Chicago, Northwestern defeated Michigan 15-6 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium to clinch its third consecutive Big Ten regular-season title on April 17, 2025. A program-record 3,503 fans attended the game.
This year's event marks the first time Division I men's lacrosse will be played in the venue. The Fighting Irish, coached by Kevin Corrigan, have won two of the last three national championships (2023, 2024) and made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances. Notre Dame will clash with the reigning A-10 Conference Champion Spiders, who have made six NCAA Tournament appearances.
"We're excited to partner with the NU lacrosse program to bring a great day of men's and women's lacrosse to the Chicago area," Corrigan said. "Both programs are passionate about growing the game at all levels — which means not just playing the game at its highest level — but bringing the full lacrosse community together to celebrate a day of competitive excellence."
The event will serve as a homecoming for Trojans coach Lindsey Munday. A two-time national champion as a player (2005, 2006) and three-time national title winner as a Wildcat assistant (2007-2009), Munday was hired as USC's first-ever coach in 2011.
This past summer, Munday coached the U.S. Women's Sixes National Team squad featuring Wildcat alum Izzy Scane to a gold medal at The World Games in Chengdu, China.
Northwestern and USC have faced off seven times since 2013, with the Wildcats holding a 5-2 historical record. The Trojans haven't played in Evanston since the 2018 season.
Lacrosse Day in Chicago is Northwestern's first scheduled outdoor home game of the 2026 campaign, with seven prior contests inside Ryan Fieldhouse. It will mark one of two regular season matchups at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
"We hope that fans from all over the Midwest and beyond will show up for Lacrosse Day in Chicago and see why the sport of lacrosse can set your heart on fire," Amonte Hiller said.
Players Mentioned
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