Northwestern University Athletics
Jenika Cuocco’s Championship Heroics Garner IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week Honors
4/28/2026 2:44:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. — Northwestern graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco earned IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week honors after a pair of standout performances in the Big Ten Tournament, the IWLCA announced Tuesday afternoon.
This marks Cuocco's second IWLCA player of the week honor this season. She and senior attacker Madison Taylor have both been honored with IWLCA weekly honors in 2026.
Cuocco, the 2026 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, posted 27 saves on a 65.9% save percentage across wins over Michigan and Maryland.
She shattered the Wildcat single game saves record in the Big Ten title game against the Terrapins, tying the Big Ten Tournament record of 18 stops in an 8-7 overtime win.
Cuocco's 18 saves are the most in a single game by a Big Ten goalie this year. In the semifinal, Cuocco racked up nine saves on a 56.3% save percentage as the 'Cats took down the Wolverines, 9-7.
Her 72% save percentage against Maryland is the highest ever by a Northwestern netminder in Big Ten Tournament play, as well as the second highest in Big Ten Championship history. Cuocco collected a trio of critical overtime saves to lead the Wildcats to their fourth consecutive conference tournament title.
The Sound Beach, N.Y., native ranks No. 7 in the nation in saves (161) and No. 5 in save percentage (51.6%) in 2026. Her 161 saves are the third most in a season by a Wildcat goalie. Cuocco is the first NU goalkeeper to eclipse 160 saves since Madison Doucette recorded 166 saves in 2022. She is eight saves from tying Mallory Weiss' program record of 169, set in 2017.
Cuocco, who has posted at least a 50% save percentage in her past four games, has racked up double-digit stops on six occasions this season. The former Drexel star will make her first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2024 in May.
The Wildcats secured the Big Ten's automatic bid with their 8-7 overtime win in the Big Ten Championship over Maryland on April 26. They will learn their NCAA Tournament seeding during the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Selection Show, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
This marks Cuocco's second IWLCA player of the week honor this season. She and senior attacker Madison Taylor have both been honored with IWLCA weekly honors in 2026.
Cuocco, the 2026 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, posted 27 saves on a 65.9% save percentage across wins over Michigan and Maryland.
She shattered the Wildcat single game saves record in the Big Ten title game against the Terrapins, tying the Big Ten Tournament record of 18 stops in an 8-7 overtime win.
Cuocco's 18 saves are the most in a single game by a Big Ten goalie this year. In the semifinal, Cuocco racked up nine saves on a 56.3% save percentage as the 'Cats took down the Wolverines, 9-7.
Her 72% save percentage against Maryland is the highest ever by a Northwestern netminder in Big Ten Tournament play, as well as the second highest in Big Ten Championship history. Cuocco collected a trio of critical overtime saves to lead the Wildcats to their fourth consecutive conference tournament title.
The Sound Beach, N.Y., native ranks No. 7 in the nation in saves (161) and No. 5 in save percentage (51.6%) in 2026. Her 161 saves are the third most in a season by a Wildcat goalie. Cuocco is the first NU goalkeeper to eclipse 160 saves since Madison Doucette recorded 166 saves in 2022. She is eight saves from tying Mallory Weiss' program record of 169, set in 2017.
Cuocco, who has posted at least a 50% save percentage in her past four games, has racked up double-digit stops on six occasions this season. The former Drexel star will make her first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2024 in May.
The Wildcats secured the Big Ten's automatic bid with their 8-7 overtime win in the Big Ten Championship over Maryland on April 26. They will learn their NCAA Tournament seeding during the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Selection Show, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
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