Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, March 29
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
#7 Johns Hopkins
Photo by: Andy Mead/Northwestern Athletics
No. 11 Northwestern Hosts No. 7 Johns Hopkins in Sunday Big Ten Showdown
3/28/2026 12:12:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — After taking down No. 1 North Carolina on March 25 in Chapel Hill, No. 11 Northwestern will face No. 7 Johns Hopkins on Sunday, March 29 inside Ryan Fieldhouse. Opening draw of the regular season's indoor finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Dean Linke and two-time Tewaaraton Award winner and Northwestern lacrosse alum Izzy Scane will be on the call.
The Wildcats (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) will look to pick up their third top-10 victory of the 2026 season after knocking off the nation's No. 1 ranked squad for the third time since 2023.
Two of the programs' past three meetings have been decided by one goal margins.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw control percentage (64.2%), draw controls per game (17.90), points per game (25.30), scoring offense (16.50 goals per game), scoring margin (7.10 GPG) and shots on goal per game (24.90).
LAST TIME OUT
Taylor buried a sudden-death overtime dagger to stun No. 1 UNC 17-16 on Wednesday, March 25. Olivia Adamson posted a team-high five points, while Taylor and Aditi Foster each recorded three goals.
Northwestern used a 4-0 third-quarter run to battle back from an 8-6 halftime deficit.
Maddie Epke pulled down a season-high 15 draw controls to help the 'Cats outdraw the Tar Heels 20-15.
Jenika Cuocco posted 12 saves, including a stop on an overtime free position shot to set up Taylor's winner on the ensuing possession.
The result snapped UNC's 31-game winning streak and handed the Tar Heels their first home loss since NU defeated them at Dorrance Field on March 25, 2024. The 'Cats have now beaten two teams that made the 2025 Final Four this season (Boston College, UNC).
SCOUTING JOHNS HOPKINS
The Blue Jays (10-2, 3-1 Big Ten) enter Sunday's contest following a 15-12 home loss to Maryland on March 26.
Led by head coach Tim McCormack, a Wildcat assistant from 2014 to 2019, Johns Hopkins has made three consecutive NCAA Tournament Second Round appearances.
Ava Angello spearheads the Blue Jays attack. She has recorded 44 goals and 20 assists this season. Lacey Downey has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the midfield, tallying 55 points, 45 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers in 2026. Another member of the 50-plus point club, Taylor Hoss has notched 22 goals and 29 assists this season.
Reagan O'Brien, the NCAA's single-season record holder in caused turnovers, leads the Blue Jays defense. O'Brien has racked up 51 caused turnovers and 40 ground balls this year. Ashley Langdon starts between the pipes for Johns Hopkins. Langdon has a 9.29 goals against average and a 37% save percentage.
SERIES STUFF
Sunday will mark the 28th all-time meeting between the two programs. Northwestern has built a commanding 23-4 series lead, winning 11 consecutive games against Johns Hopkins.
The two teams last faced off in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament semifinals in College Park, Md., where the Wildcats prevailed 16-15. NU is 9-1 against the Blue Jays in Evanston.
NEXT UP
Northwestern will host Big Ten foe USC in a one of a kind doubleheader at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Saturday, April 4. Opening draw in the Lacrosse Day in Chicago clash is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Prior to the Wildcats game at 11:30 a.m. CT, No. 1 Notre Dame men's lacrosse will face off against No. 2 Richmond.
Dean Linke and two-time Tewaaraton Award winner and Northwestern lacrosse alum Izzy Scane will be on the call.
The Wildcats (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) will look to pick up their third top-10 victory of the 2026 season after knocking off the nation's No. 1 ranked squad for the third time since 2023.
Two of the programs' past three meetings have been decided by one goal margins.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw control percentage (64.2%), draw controls per game (17.90), points per game (25.30), scoring offense (16.50 goals per game), scoring margin (7.10 GPG) and shots on goal per game (24.90).
- 410: Madison Taylor's career points tally, which ranks No. 1 among all active NCAA Division I players. She and Izzy Scane are the only Wildcats in program history to eclipse the 400-point mark. Taylor ranks ninth in the NCAA's all-time scoring leaderboard.
- 293: Taylor's the active NCAA leader in career goals. With a Big Ten-high 48 goals in 10 games this season, Taylor has jumped into No. 2 in NU program history and No. 9 in NCAA history.
- 664: Jenika Cuocco's career saves figure, the highest among all active NCAA Division I players. This season, Cuocco ranks third in the Big Ten in save percentage (.490) and No. 2 in saves per game (7.78). Cuocco has logged 3,742 minutes between the pipes, the second most among all active Division I players.
- 518: Draw controls pulled down by Maddie Epke in her career thus far. She leads all active NCAA Division I players in career draw controls and ranks ninth in NCAA Division I history.
- 13: Top five victories by Kelly Amonte Hiller's squad since the 2023 season. The Wildcats have gone 3-1 against the nation's No. 1 ranked team during that span.
LAST TIME OUT
Taylor buried a sudden-death overtime dagger to stun No. 1 UNC 17-16 on Wednesday, March 25. Olivia Adamson posted a team-high five points, while Taylor and Aditi Foster each recorded three goals.
Northwestern used a 4-0 third-quarter run to battle back from an 8-6 halftime deficit.
Maddie Epke pulled down a season-high 15 draw controls to help the 'Cats outdraw the Tar Heels 20-15.
Jenika Cuocco posted 12 saves, including a stop on an overtime free position shot to set up Taylor's winner on the ensuing possession.
The result snapped UNC's 31-game winning streak and handed the Tar Heels their first home loss since NU defeated them at Dorrance Field on March 25, 2024. The 'Cats have now beaten two teams that made the 2025 Final Four this season (Boston College, UNC).
'CATS WIN! ??
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) March 26, 2026
MADDY TAYLOR. THE GOLDEN GOAL. pic.twitter.com/Dj6wL7OAgp
SCOUTING JOHNS HOPKINS
The Blue Jays (10-2, 3-1 Big Ten) enter Sunday's contest following a 15-12 home loss to Maryland on March 26.
Led by head coach Tim McCormack, a Wildcat assistant from 2014 to 2019, Johns Hopkins has made three consecutive NCAA Tournament Second Round appearances.
Ava Angello spearheads the Blue Jays attack. She has recorded 44 goals and 20 assists this season. Lacey Downey has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the midfield, tallying 55 points, 45 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers in 2026. Another member of the 50-plus point club, Taylor Hoss has notched 22 goals and 29 assists this season.
Reagan O'Brien, the NCAA's single-season record holder in caused turnovers, leads the Blue Jays defense. O'Brien has racked up 51 caused turnovers and 40 ground balls this year. Ashley Langdon starts between the pipes for Johns Hopkins. Langdon has a 9.29 goals against average and a 37% save percentage.
SERIES STUFF
Sunday will mark the 28th all-time meeting between the two programs. Northwestern has built a commanding 23-4 series lead, winning 11 consecutive games against Johns Hopkins.
The two teams last faced off in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament semifinals in College Park, Md., where the Wildcats prevailed 16-15. NU is 9-1 against the Blue Jays in Evanston.
NEXT UP
Northwestern will host Big Ten foe USC in a one of a kind doubleheader at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Saturday, April 4. Opening draw in the Lacrosse Day in Chicago clash is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Prior to the Wildcats game at 11:30 a.m. CT, No. 1 Notre Dame men's lacrosse will face off against No. 2 Richmond.
Players Mentioned
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