Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
How Northwestern’s Draw Team Found Another Gear in Late May
5/24/2026 8:43:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has long held direct oversight of Northwestern's draw team.
Ever a pioneer of the women's game, Amonte Hiller was among the first coaches to develop true specialists in the possession battle during the early 2000s. The Wildcats have fielded their share of transcendent draw takers ever since, including Jill Girardi, Sam Smith, Brennan Dwyer, Shelby Fredericks and Alyssa Leonard.
As No. 1 Northwestern prepares to take on No. 2 North Carolina in Sunday's national title game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, the Wildcat draw team has elevated its play at the season's most crucial juncture. In three NCAA Tournament games, Northwestern has outdrawn its opponents 55-25.
During Friday's semifinal, the circle trio of Madison Smith, Madison Taylor and Maddie Epke pulled down a combined 19 draw controls to help NU punch its championship ticket with a 16-11 win over Johns Hopkins.
"They're a pretty unbelievable squad, and I have a ton of fun working with them," Amonte Hiller said.
This past offseason, Amonte Hiller needed to account for the graduation of a three-year starter on the draw and two-way midfielder in Sam Smith. The Mill Valley, Calif., native pulled down a program record 185 draw controls in 2025 and had steadily improved with each passing season.
With Smith taking her talents to the WLL's New York Charging and her younger sister returning from a season-ending lower-body injury, Amonte Hiller brought in the nation's active leader in career draw controls. Epke, the former James Madison star, had shattered possession records on the college and international stage.
Throughout fall ball, Epke, Syracuse transfer Olivia Adamson and Madison Smith, who made significant strides in her recovery, each took reps on the draw.
"Any time you can push the people you have in place is such a huge thing," Amonte Hiller said in February. "Their ability to push each other — sometimes it can get to them a little bit because they're going against the best every day — they just have to realize their competition in the practice setting is truly elite. We need to continue to push each other every day."
Smith solidified an immediate role on defense and the draw. She's pulled down a team-high 122 draw controls while adding 24 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls. Smith is the first player in program history to post at least 100 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers in a single season.
Early on, Epke experienced growing pains as she adapted to a new school, conference and system. But Epke has emerged as a dynamic attacker and has played both on the circle and as a primary draw taker in the postseason.
In 21 games, Epke has scored 40 points and accumulated 81 draw controls. Beyond the stat sheet, her effort on the ride has forced opposing defenses into precarious positions on clear attempts.
"I get to work with her every single day and have a lot of conversations with her," Amonte Hiller said. "Early on in the season, it was a little bit of a hard transition. Just to see how comfortable she is now, how she carries us and how big time she is, she just loves this game. She wants to be a coach, and [she's] just really fun to work with."
The Guilford, Conn., native is the first player in program history to tally at least five points and six draw controls in multiple NCAA Tournament games. Epke followed up a five-point, nine-draw control display against her former team on May 10 with six points and six draw controls against Johns Hopkins on Friday.
Lauren Gilbert, Danielle Spencer, Taylor and Fredericks are the only other Wildcats with one such game in postseason play.
"It just gets more and more comfortable as you go on with this team," Epke said. "This group is so talented. There's so many people that you don't even see getting these goals that are doing so much for us in practice to make us better. That's why you're seeing some of us play our best lacrosse right now."
In the first three years of Northwestern's four consecutive national title appearances, the Wildcats had a true No. 1 draw taker and a reliable second option to change the pace in the circle.
Serafina DeMunno was that complementary piece in 2023, and the younger Smith sister had that role under Sam the following season, as well as early in 2025. Last year, Amonte Hiller could also call upon Niki Miles to step up on draws. She also has the constant presence of Taylor, the only player in NCAA history with 450+ points and 250+ draw controls, on the circle.
As Northwestern turns the corner for a national title rematch with the Tar Heels, who've dealt with draw specialist Sarah Gresham's limited status in Friday's semifinal due to injury, the 'Cats boast a dual-faceted draw operation capable of commanding possession against any elite squad.
The tandem will be unleashed Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.
Ever a pioneer of the women's game, Amonte Hiller was among the first coaches to develop true specialists in the possession battle during the early 2000s. The Wildcats have fielded their share of transcendent draw takers ever since, including Jill Girardi, Sam Smith, Brennan Dwyer, Shelby Fredericks and Alyssa Leonard.
As No. 1 Northwestern prepares to take on No. 2 North Carolina in Sunday's national title game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, the Wildcat draw team has elevated its play at the season's most crucial juncture. In three NCAA Tournament games, Northwestern has outdrawn its opponents 55-25.
During Friday's semifinal, the circle trio of Madison Smith, Madison Taylor and Maddie Epke pulled down a combined 19 draw controls to help NU punch its championship ticket with a 16-11 win over Johns Hopkins.
"They're a pretty unbelievable squad, and I have a ton of fun working with them," Amonte Hiller said.
This past offseason, Amonte Hiller needed to account for the graduation of a three-year starter on the draw and two-way midfielder in Sam Smith. The Mill Valley, Calif., native pulled down a program record 185 draw controls in 2025 and had steadily improved with each passing season.
With Smith taking her talents to the WLL's New York Charging and her younger sister returning from a season-ending lower-body injury, Amonte Hiller brought in the nation's active leader in career draw controls. Epke, the former James Madison star, had shattered possession records on the college and international stage.
Throughout fall ball, Epke, Syracuse transfer Olivia Adamson and Madison Smith, who made significant strides in her recovery, each took reps on the draw.
"Any time you can push the people you have in place is such a huge thing," Amonte Hiller said in February. "Their ability to push each other — sometimes it can get to them a little bit because they're going against the best every day — they just have to realize their competition in the practice setting is truly elite. We need to continue to push each other every day."
Smith solidified an immediate role on defense and the draw. She's pulled down a team-high 122 draw controls while adding 24 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls. Smith is the first player in program history to post at least 100 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers in a single season.
Early on, Epke experienced growing pains as she adapted to a new school, conference and system. But Epke has emerged as a dynamic attacker and has played both on the circle and as a primary draw taker in the postseason.
In 21 games, Epke has scored 40 points and accumulated 81 draw controls. Beyond the stat sheet, her effort on the ride has forced opposing defenses into precarious positions on clear attempts.
"I get to work with her every single day and have a lot of conversations with her," Amonte Hiller said. "Early on in the season, it was a little bit of a hard transition. Just to see how comfortable she is now, how she carries us and how big time she is, she just loves this game. She wants to be a coach, and [she's] just really fun to work with."
The Guilford, Conn., native is the first player in program history to tally at least five points and six draw controls in multiple NCAA Tournament games. Epke followed up a five-point, nine-draw control display against her former team on May 10 with six points and six draw controls against Johns Hopkins on Friday.
Lauren Gilbert, Danielle Spencer, Taylor and Fredericks are the only other Wildcats with one such game in postseason play.
"It just gets more and more comfortable as you go on with this team," Epke said. "This group is so talented. There's so many people that you don't even see getting these goals that are doing so much for us in practice to make us better. That's why you're seeing some of us play our best lacrosse right now."
In the first three years of Northwestern's four consecutive national title appearances, the Wildcats had a true No. 1 draw taker and a reliable second option to change the pace in the circle.
Serafina DeMunno was that complementary piece in 2023, and the younger Smith sister had that role under Sam the following season, as well as early in 2025. Last year, Amonte Hiller could also call upon Niki Miles to step up on draws. She also has the constant presence of Taylor, the only player in NCAA history with 450+ points and 250+ draw controls, on the circle.
As Northwestern turns the corner for a national title rematch with the Tar Heels, who've dealt with draw specialist Sarah Gresham's limited status in Friday's semifinal due to injury, the 'Cats boast a dual-faceted draw operation capable of commanding possession against any elite squad.
The tandem will be unleashed Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.
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