Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, April 9
College Park, Md.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
#1 Maryland
No. 4 Northwestern Gears Up for Road Matchup at No. 1 Maryland
4/8/2026 2:30:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — No. 4 Northwestern will face its second top-ranked opponent in the past three weeks at No. 1 Maryland on Thursday, April 9. Opening draw from Maryland's Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.
The Wildcats (9-3, 3-1 Big Ten) enter the matchup on a four-game winning streak. Northwestern has won 14 consecutive road games, the longest streak in the nation.
Thursday marks the latest iteration in a clash of the Big Ten's premier programs. The two teams have combined for nine of the conference's last 10 tournament championships (NU: 5; UMD: 4).
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw controls per game (17.25), free position percentage (54.4%), points per game (24.75), scoring margin (6.75 goals per game), scoring offense (16 GPG), shots per game (34.17) and shots on goal per game (24.17).
422: Madison Taylor's career points tally, the most among all active NCAA Division I players. She and Izzy Scane are the only Wildcats to eclipse the 400-point mark. Taylor ranks No. 7 in the NCAA's all-time scoring leaderboard. She is 61 points away from tying Scane's program record of 483 points.
303: Taylor leads active NCAA DI players in career goals. Last time out, she became the second player in program and Big Ten history to reach the 300-goal milestone, joining Scane. With a conference-high 58 goals in 12 games this season, Taylor has jumped into No. 2 in Wildcat history and No. 8 in NCAA history in career goals.
684: Jenika Cuocco's career saves figure; the highest among all active NCAA Division I players. Cuocco ranks second in the Big Ten in saves this season (102). At 8.5 saves per game, the graduate student is on pace for a top-five goalkeeping season in program history.
525: Maddie Epke's career draw controls, which is tied for No. 7 among all-time NCAA Division I players with UConn's Sydney Watson. Epke leads all active DI players in draw controls and has pulled down 40 this season.
3: Wins for Northwestern against the No. 1-ranked squad in the IWLCA since 2023, the most nationally. The Wildcats are 3-2 against top-ranked foes in that span and could pick up their second such win in three weeks on Thursday.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern defeated USC 11-6 in front of a program-record 5,805 fans on Saturday, April 4, during the second annual "Lacrosse Day in Chicago" at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Madison Taylor led all scorers with six points (four goals, two assists), and Aditi Foster added a hat trick.
The Wildcats built a 6-0 first-half lead and staved off the Trojans' second-half effort with a steady defensive performance. Jenika Cuocco posted nine saves on a 64.3% save percentage. Cuocco has tallied 32 saves in her past three games.
Northwestern commanded the possessional battle 12-6, with Madison Smith pulling down a game-high seven draw controls.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
The top-ranked Terrapins (13-0, 5-0 Big Ten) are the nation's lone undefeated squad. Maryland enters Thursday's game fresh off an 18-11 victory over Rutgers on April 4.
Led by head coach Cathy Reese, the Terrapins rank No. 4 in the Big Ten in both scoring offense (14.46 goals per game) and scoring defense (9.38 GPG).
Lauren LaPointe leads a balanced Maryland attack with 67 points (47 goals, 20 assists) in 2026. Kristen Shanahan, Kori Edmondson, Keeley Block and Jordyn Lipkin have each eclipsed the 30-point mark this year.
Edmondson, the reigning Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and former No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022, has forged a dynamic connection in the draw circle with Kayla Gilmore. This season, Gilmore has pulled down 78 draw controls, while Edmondson has added 47.
J.J. Suriano boasts one of the nation's most impressive goalkeeping resumes. She ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and NCAA in save percentage (53%) and is No. 3 in the country in saves (133).
SERIES STUFF
Thursday will mark the 34th all-time meeting between the two programs. Maryland leads the series 18-15, but Northwestern has captured five straight wins over its conference rival. The Wildcats have secured victories over the Terrapins in eight of their past nine matchups.
NEXT UP
Northwestern's East Coast road swing continues at No. 18 Penn State on Sunday, April 12. Opening draw from University Park, Pa., is slated for 10 a.m. CT on B1G+.
The Wildcats (9-3, 3-1 Big Ten) enter the matchup on a four-game winning streak. Northwestern has won 14 consecutive road games, the longest streak in the nation.
Thursday marks the latest iteration in a clash of the Big Ten's premier programs. The two teams have combined for nine of the conference's last 10 tournament championships (NU: 5; UMD: 4).
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw controls per game (17.25), free position percentage (54.4%), points per game (24.75), scoring margin (6.75 goals per game), scoring offense (16 GPG), shots per game (34.17) and shots on goal per game (24.17).
422: Madison Taylor's career points tally, the most among all active NCAA Division I players. She and Izzy Scane are the only Wildcats to eclipse the 400-point mark. Taylor ranks No. 7 in the NCAA's all-time scoring leaderboard. She is 61 points away from tying Scane's program record of 483 points.
303: Taylor leads active NCAA DI players in career goals. Last time out, she became the second player in program and Big Ten history to reach the 300-goal milestone, joining Scane. With a conference-high 58 goals in 12 games this season, Taylor has jumped into No. 2 in Wildcat history and No. 8 in NCAA history in career goals.
684: Jenika Cuocco's career saves figure; the highest among all active NCAA Division I players. Cuocco ranks second in the Big Ten in saves this season (102). At 8.5 saves per game, the graduate student is on pace for a top-five goalkeeping season in program history.
525: Maddie Epke's career draw controls, which is tied for No. 7 among all-time NCAA Division I players with UConn's Sydney Watson. Epke leads all active DI players in draw controls and has pulled down 40 this season.
3: Wins for Northwestern against the No. 1-ranked squad in the IWLCA since 2023, the most nationally. The Wildcats are 3-2 against top-ranked foes in that span and could pick up their second such win in three weeks on Thursday.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern defeated USC 11-6 in front of a program-record 5,805 fans on Saturday, April 4, during the second annual "Lacrosse Day in Chicago" at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Madison Taylor led all scorers with six points (four goals, two assists), and Aditi Foster added a hat trick.
5?,8?0?5? ??
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 4, 2026
Lacrosse Day in Chicago set a new program record for attendance.
Thank you to all the fans for making today special and helping grow the game! ?? pic.twitter.com/3NlVjdrUiG
The Wildcats built a 6-0 first-half lead and staved off the Trojans' second-half effort with a steady defensive performance. Jenika Cuocco posted nine saves on a 64.3% save percentage. Cuocco has tallied 32 saves in her past three games.
Northwestern commanded the possessional battle 12-6, with Madison Smith pulling down a game-high seven draw controls.
Lacrosse Day in Chicago = W ?? #CatsWin pic.twitter.com/9YAzLBM0y5
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 4, 2026
SCOUTING MARYLAND
The top-ranked Terrapins (13-0, 5-0 Big Ten) are the nation's lone undefeated squad. Maryland enters Thursday's game fresh off an 18-11 victory over Rutgers on April 4.
Led by head coach Cathy Reese, the Terrapins rank No. 4 in the Big Ten in both scoring offense (14.46 goals per game) and scoring defense (9.38 GPG).
Lauren LaPointe leads a balanced Maryland attack with 67 points (47 goals, 20 assists) in 2026. Kristen Shanahan, Kori Edmondson, Keeley Block and Jordyn Lipkin have each eclipsed the 30-point mark this year.
Edmondson, the reigning Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and former No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022, has forged a dynamic connection in the draw circle with Kayla Gilmore. This season, Gilmore has pulled down 78 draw controls, while Edmondson has added 47.
J.J. Suriano boasts one of the nation's most impressive goalkeeping resumes. She ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and NCAA in save percentage (53%) and is No. 3 in the country in saves (133).
SERIES STUFF
Thursday will mark the 34th all-time meeting between the two programs. Maryland leads the series 18-15, but Northwestern has captured five straight wins over its conference rival. The Wildcats have secured victories over the Terrapins in eight of their past nine matchups.
NEXT UP
Northwestern's East Coast road swing continues at No. 18 Penn State on Sunday, April 12. Opening draw from University Park, Pa., is slated for 10 a.m. CT on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - Northwestern Rolls Past USC 11-5 on Lacrosse Day in Chicago (4/04/26)
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