Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Ecstatic to Show Sport’s Growth at ‘Lacrosse Day in Chicago’
3/30/2026 3:42:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium will host "Lacrosse Day in Chicago," a one of a kind midseason event on Saturday, April 4. The day's first matchup — slated for 11:30 a.m. CT — features No. 1 Richmond men's lacrosse against No. 2 Notre Dame. Then, No. 6 Northwestern will take on USC in Big Ten women's lacrosse action at 2 p.m. CT.
Streaming for the men's game will be available on ACCNX, while the 'Cats will play their third consecutive nationally televised game on Big Ten Network.
Last season, the Wildcats shattered their program attendance record in the first annual Lacrosse Day in Chicago, when 3,503 fans watched NU defeat Michigan 15-6 on April 17, 2025. Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said the event was a tremendous success, but she never imagined such potential for the second edition.
It started with a phone call from Notre Dame men's lacrosse coach Kevin Corrigan to Amonte Hiller.
"Kevin said they haven't played in the Chicago area in a very long time, and they really wanted to be in this area with our facility being the way that it is," Amonte Hiller said. "They came up and caught the PLL games this summer and were really intrigued at the opportunity to play a game in the Chicago area and team up with us on it. And it just worked out really well."
A pair of preeminent programs in the Midwest, the Wildcats and Fighting Irish had long shared mutual respect as the two forged powerhouses west of the sport's traditional hotbeds. Northwestern has won eight national titles, all under Amonte Hiller. Notre Dame has won two of the past three national championships, going back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
"This is just a really cool moment for Midwestern lacrosse," Amonte Hiller said. "Oftentimes, we're an afterthought. The sport has its roots on the East Coast, so to have events like Lacrosse Day in Chicago — and to host the Final Four this year — is absolutely a big moment for Midwestern lacrosse fans. I hope they see the moment, come out and support."
When Corrigan suggested the facility host his team's non-conference clash with Richmond, Amonte Hiller knew it had the makings of a high-profile matchup. The Spiders took eventual NCAA champions Cornell down to the wire in a 13-12 NCAA Tournament defeat on May 17, 2025. But there's always uncertainty with each passing season.
Thus far, Richmond has launched an unprecedented 2026 campaign. The Spiders are 9-0, knocking off three ranked opponents. For the first time in program history, Richmond earned the No. 1 spot in the national polls on Monday.
The Fighting Irish enter the game at 6-1, boasting ACC title aspirations.
"I'm really excited about the women's side, but then on the men's side, having it be such a marquee matchup is such a special opportunity for people in the Chicagoland area to come out and see the best lacrosse there is on the men's side and the women's side," Amonte Hiller said. "I'm excited that it's an all-day event. It gives us an opportunity to create a festival environment."
With USC playing its first-ever Big Ten game in Evanston, NU welcomes back a program legend in Trojans head coach Lindsey Munday. A two-time All-American, Munday won two national titles as a player in 2005 and 2006. The Wildcats won three consecutive national championships when Munday served as an assistant coach on Amonte Hiller's staff.
Munday serves as the head coach for the U.S. Women's Sixes National Team, where she has coached several current and former Wildcats in the discipline that will feature in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
For Amonte Hiller, all the pieces are in place for an electric event on the lakefront.
"I can't emphasize enough the importance of people coming out and checking it out," Amonte Hiller said. "If you're a lacrosse fan, be there. There's no excuses. If you're not a lacrosse fan, this is the type of event where you can get exposed to this great game on the men's side and women's side."
Streaming for the men's game will be available on ACCNX, while the 'Cats will play their third consecutive nationally televised game on Big Ten Network.
Last season, the Wildcats shattered their program attendance record in the first annual Lacrosse Day in Chicago, when 3,503 fans watched NU defeat Michigan 15-6 on April 17, 2025. Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said the event was a tremendous success, but she never imagined such potential for the second edition.
It started with a phone call from Notre Dame men's lacrosse coach Kevin Corrigan to Amonte Hiller.
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
"Kevin said they haven't played in the Chicago area in a very long time, and they really wanted to be in this area with our facility being the way that it is," Amonte Hiller said. "They came up and caught the PLL games this summer and were really intrigued at the opportunity to play a game in the Chicago area and team up with us on it. And it just worked out really well."
A pair of preeminent programs in the Midwest, the Wildcats and Fighting Irish had long shared mutual respect as the two forged powerhouses west of the sport's traditional hotbeds. Northwestern has won eight national titles, all under Amonte Hiller. Notre Dame has won two of the past three national championships, going back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
"This is just a really cool moment for Midwestern lacrosse," Amonte Hiller said. "Oftentimes, we're an afterthought. The sport has its roots on the East Coast, so to have events like Lacrosse Day in Chicago — and to host the Final Four this year — is absolutely a big moment for Midwestern lacrosse fans. I hope they see the moment, come out and support."
When Corrigan suggested the facility host his team's non-conference clash with Richmond, Amonte Hiller knew it had the makings of a high-profile matchup. The Spiders took eventual NCAA champions Cornell down to the wire in a 13-12 NCAA Tournament defeat on May 17, 2025. But there's always uncertainty with each passing season.
Thus far, Richmond has launched an unprecedented 2026 campaign. The Spiders are 9-0, knocking off three ranked opponents. For the first time in program history, Richmond earned the No. 1 spot in the national polls on Monday.
The Fighting Irish enter the game at 6-1, boasting ACC title aspirations.
"I'm really excited about the women's side, but then on the men's side, having it be such a marquee matchup is such a special opportunity for people in the Chicagoland area to come out and see the best lacrosse there is on the men's side and the women's side," Amonte Hiller said. "I'm excited that it's an all-day event. It gives us an opportunity to create a festival environment."
With USC playing its first-ever Big Ten game in Evanston, NU welcomes back a program legend in Trojans head coach Lindsey Munday. A two-time All-American, Munday won two national titles as a player in 2005 and 2006. The Wildcats won three consecutive national championships when Munday served as an assistant coach on Amonte Hiller's staff.
Munday serves as the head coach for the U.S. Women's Sixes National Team, where she has coached several current and former Wildcats in the discipline that will feature in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
For Amonte Hiller, all the pieces are in place for an electric event on the lakefront.
"I can't emphasize enough the importance of people coming out and checking it out," Amonte Hiller said. "If you're a lacrosse fan, be there. There's no excuses. If you're not a lacrosse fan, this is the type of event where you can get exposed to this great game on the men's side and women's side."
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