Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 24
Ann Arbor, Mich.
10 a.m. CT
Northwestern
14-3
10
at
7
#8 Michigan
12-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Northwestern | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
Photo by: David Dermer
No. 2 ’Cats Take Down No. 8 Michigan 10-7, Advance to Big Ten Championship
4/24/2026 12:42:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 2 Northwestern defeated No. 8 Michigan 10-7 on Friday morning in UM Lacrosse Stadium to advance to its fourth consecutive Big Ten Tournament Championship game.
The top-seeded Wildcats (14-3, 7-1 Big Ten) outscored the No. 4-seed Wolverines (12-6, 5-3 Big Ten) 5-3 in the second half to secure their ninth consecutive victory. Northwestern extended its road winning streak to a nation-best 17 games.
NU has won its past seven conference tournament games, dating back to May 4, 2023.
Senior attacker Madison Taylor posted five points (two goals, three assists). With her second point of the game, Taylor became the first player in NCAA history to record 450+ career points and 200+ draw controls.
Extending her prolific form in conference tournament games, sophomore attacker Aditi Foster fired in three goals. She has scored three hat tricks in her past three games.
In an efficient effort on the crease, junior attacker Taylor Lapointe tallied three goals on three shots.
Junior midfielder Noel Cumberland, who picked up a First Team All-Big Ten nod on Tuesday, buried a behind-the-back goal. Senior attacker Maddie Epke added a tally.
Redshirt sophomore defender Madison Smith commanded the circle, pulling down seven draw controls as NU outdrew the hosts 10-9. Smith racked up a pair of caused turnovers.
Graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco backstopped a spirited defensive effort, collecting nine saves on a 56.3% save percentage. Cuocco stepped up in crunch time, picking up five second-half stops.
"All season long they've played with a lot of heart," Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said of her defense. "Obviously, our offense knows how to score goals, but the defense was able to really stifle them and just come up with plays when we needed it, whether it was a ground ball or a save. Jenika was incredible."
In a dominant showing between the restraining lines, graduate student midfielder Annabel Child scooped a season-high five ground balls. Child leads all Wildcat field players with 28 ground balls this season.
While Michigan jumped out to a 4-2 first-half lead, Northwestern launched a 3-0 run to enter halftime with a 5-4 advantage. After the teams traded scorers, the 'Cats netted four consecutive goals from the 3:57 mark of the third quarter to the 8:36 mark in the fourth. The stretch proved decisive as NU built a game-high four-goal edge.
The Wildcats will return to action in the Big Ten Championship against the winner of No. 2-seed Maryland and No. 3-seed Johns Hopkins on Sunday, April 26. Opening draw is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
The top-seeded Wildcats (14-3, 7-1 Big Ten) outscored the No. 4-seed Wolverines (12-6, 5-3 Big Ten) 5-3 in the second half to secure their ninth consecutive victory. Northwestern extended its road winning streak to a nation-best 17 games.
See you on Championship Sunday ?? pic.twitter.com/yhgVWpC0tQ
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 24, 2026
NU has won its past seven conference tournament games, dating back to May 4, 2023.
Senior attacker Madison Taylor posted five points (two goals, three assists). With her second point of the game, Taylor became the first player in NCAA history to record 450+ career points and 200+ draw controls.
Extending her prolific form in conference tournament games, sophomore attacker Aditi Foster fired in three goals. She has scored three hat tricks in her past three games.
In an efficient effort on the crease, junior attacker Taylor Lapointe tallied three goals on three shots.
Junior midfielder Noel Cumberland, who picked up a First Team All-Big Ten nod on Tuesday, buried a behind-the-back goal. Senior attacker Maddie Epke added a tally.
NOEL CUMBERLAND BEHIND THE BACK ?? pic.twitter.com/YdpH3fJsjs
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 24, 2026
Redshirt sophomore defender Madison Smith commanded the circle, pulling down seven draw controls as NU outdrew the hosts 10-9. Smith racked up a pair of caused turnovers.
Graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco backstopped a spirited defensive effort, collecting nine saves on a 56.3% save percentage. Cuocco stepped up in crunch time, picking up five second-half stops.
"All season long they've played with a lot of heart," Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said of her defense. "Obviously, our offense knows how to score goals, but the defense was able to really stifle them and just come up with plays when we needed it, whether it was a ground ball or a save. Jenika was incredible."
In a dominant showing between the restraining lines, graduate student midfielder Annabel Child scooped a season-high five ground balls. Child leads all Wildcat field players with 28 ground balls this season.
While Michigan jumped out to a 4-2 first-half lead, Northwestern launched a 3-0 run to enter halftime with a 5-4 advantage. After the teams traded scorers, the 'Cats netted four consecutive goals from the 3:57 mark of the third quarter to the 8:36 mark in the fourth. The stretch proved decisive as NU built a game-high four-goal edge.
The Wildcats will return to action in the Big Ten Championship against the winner of No. 2-seed Maryland and No. 3-seed Johns Hopkins on Sunday, April 26. Opening draw is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
MICHIGAN
NORTHWES
Shots
23
23
Turnovers
11
15
Caused Turnovers
10
8
Draw Controls
9
10
Free-Position Shots
5
3
Ground Balls
12
16
Game Leaders
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
3
FO
-
Pen
-60
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - 'Cats Advance To Big Ten Tournament Championship With 10-7 Win Over No. 8 Michigan
Friday, April 24
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Sunday, April 19
Lacrosse - Lake Show Handles Business Against No. 22 Rutgers, 18-6 (4/15/2026)
Thursday, April 16
Lacrosse - Cats Defeat No. 18 PSU 17-12 in Conference Road Win (04/12/26)
Sunday, April 12
