Sunday, April 27
College Park, Md.
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
16-2
8
at
7
Maryland
14-5
1
2
3
4
F
Maryland
3
2
1
1
7
Northwestern
1
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8
Photo by: Allison Mize/Northwestern Athletics
No. 3 ‘Cats Rally to Win Third-Straight Big Ten Tournament Title
4/27/2025 6:17:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Aditi Foster's second goal of the game broke a 7-7 tie with 15 seconds left to lift No. 3 Northwestern past No. 7 Maryland in comeback fashion to win the Big Ten Tournament Championship in College Park on Sunday evening.
Foster, who last scored on Feb. 25, began the Wildcats' (16-2) comeback trailing 6-2 late in the third quarter. Her third multi-goal effort of the season delivered the Wildcats their third-straight Big Ten Tournament crown and their fifth tournament championship in the last six seasons.
Down 6-2 in the second half, Foster converted a Madison Taylor feed with 5:04 showing on the clock to pull the 'Cats within 6-3. The goal snapped a scoreless drought of 19:34 as UMD goalie JJ Suriano stood tall against a barrage of NU shots throughout the day, compiling Big Ten Tournament single-game record 18 total saves. That goal sparked the Wildcats as Niki Miles struck for her second goal of the game 48 seconds later to pull to within 6-4. With time almost up in the frame, Noel Cumberland found some space to make it a one-goal game at 6-5 with nine seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Both defenses locked things down for the first 12 minutes of the quarter as the 6-5 score held into the late stages of regulation. After UMD scored five goals on seven shots in the first half, Delaney Sweitzer shut it down in net and made four-straight saves to keep Northwestern within a goal as Maryland tried to extend its lead. Taylor appeared to tie things up on a free position attempt with 5:12 on the clock, but her tally was waved off after video review. Her subsequent free position attempt was then stopped by Suriano to keep it a 6-5 game.
After another defensive stop, Emerson Bohlig finally evened the score with 2:54 left and Taylor gave the Wildcats their first lead of the day 16 seconds later following a Sam Smith draw control. NU nearly added an insurance goal, but a video review waved it off and put the Wildcats down a player with 1:35 remaining. Terrapin midfielder Kori Edmondson then tied the score at 7-7 with 1:04 left on a free position shot.
With time winding down, Bohlig found Foster cutting in front who finished her second goal of the afternoon to break the tie and secure NU's eighth-straight victory.
Gallery: (4-27-2025) Lacrosse vs. Maryland - BTT
Maryland found the net on all three of its shots in the first quarter, taking a 3-1 lead through 15 minutes, despite Northwestern owning a 10-3 edge in shots. Down 4-1, Niki Miles broke a 15:15 scoring drought to make it 4-2 with 9:38 left in the half, but UMD added one more 45 seconds later to take a 5-2 halftime lead. The Terrapins would score again midway through the third to go up 6-2 before the Wildcats' furious comeback.
The Wildcats ended up outshooting the Terrapins 41-19, placing 26 of their attempts on goal. NU caused eight turnovers and took 12 of 19 draw controls. Sweitzer stopped seven of 14 shots to pick up the win, with four of her saves coming in the fourth quarter to allow the Wildcats to come back. Sweitzer, Taylor, Smith, Sammy White and Jane Hansen all landed on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team with Hansen named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Hansen caused three turnovers on Sunday and five in the Big Ten Tournament.
Northwestern has clinched an automatic berth in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and will learn its opponent during the tournament Selection Show on May 4. The bracket will be revealed live on ESPNU at 8 p.m. CT.
Foster, who last scored on Feb. 25, began the Wildcats' (16-2) comeback trailing 6-2 late in the third quarter. Her third multi-goal effort of the season delivered the Wildcats their third-straight Big Ten Tournament crown and their fifth tournament championship in the last six seasons.
BIG TEN CHAMPS! ?? pic.twitter.com/DhsqCqHb24
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 27, 2025
Down 6-2 in the second half, Foster converted a Madison Taylor feed with 5:04 showing on the clock to pull the 'Cats within 6-3. The goal snapped a scoreless drought of 19:34 as UMD goalie JJ Suriano stood tall against a barrage of NU shots throughout the day, compiling Big Ten Tournament single-game record 18 total saves. That goal sparked the Wildcats as Niki Miles struck for her second goal of the game 48 seconds later to pull to within 6-4. With time almost up in the frame, Noel Cumberland found some space to make it a one-goal game at 6-5 with nine seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Both defenses locked things down for the first 12 minutes of the quarter as the 6-5 score held into the late stages of regulation. After UMD scored five goals on seven shots in the first half, Delaney Sweitzer shut it down in net and made four-straight saves to keep Northwestern within a goal as Maryland tried to extend its lead. Taylor appeared to tie things up on a free position attempt with 5:12 on the clock, but her tally was waved off after video review. Her subsequent free position attempt was then stopped by Suriano to keep it a 6-5 game.
ADITI FOSTER! 'CATS REGAIN THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/OzE2lNBn3n
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 27, 2025
After another defensive stop, Emerson Bohlig finally evened the score with 2:54 left and Taylor gave the Wildcats their first lead of the day 16 seconds later following a Sam Smith draw control. NU nearly added an insurance goal, but a video review waved it off and put the Wildcats down a player with 1:35 remaining. Terrapin midfielder Kori Edmondson then tied the score at 7-7 with 1:04 left on a free position shot.
With time winding down, Bohlig found Foster cutting in front who finished her second goal of the afternoon to break the tie and secure NU's eighth-straight victory.
Maryland found the net on all three of its shots in the first quarter, taking a 3-1 lead through 15 minutes, despite Northwestern owning a 10-3 edge in shots. Down 4-1, Niki Miles broke a 15:15 scoring drought to make it 4-2 with 9:38 left in the half, but UMD added one more 45 seconds later to take a 5-2 halftime lead. The Terrapins would score again midway through the third to go up 6-2 before the Wildcats' furious comeback.
The Wildcats ended up outshooting the Terrapins 41-19, placing 26 of their attempts on goal. NU caused eight turnovers and took 12 of 19 draw controls. Sweitzer stopped seven of 14 shots to pick up the win, with four of her saves coming in the fourth quarter to allow the Wildcats to come back. Sweitzer, Taylor, Smith, Sammy White and Jane Hansen all landed on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team with Hansen named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Hansen caused three turnovers on Sunday and five in the Big Ten Tournament.
YOUR 2025 @BIGTEN CHAMPS ?? pic.twitter.com/MvBB77CRtk
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 27, 2025
Northwestern has clinched an automatic berth in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and will learn its opponent during the tournament Selection Show on May 4. The bracket will be revealed live on ESPNU at 8 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
UMD
NU
Shots
19
41
Turnovers
15
10
Caused Turnovers
3
8
Draw Controls
7
12
Free-Position Shots
8
9
Ground Balls
7
10
Game Leaders
Players
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
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Lacrosse - Comeback 'Cats Take Down Boston College, 12-11, Advance to National Title Game (5/23/25)
Saturday, May 24
Lacrosse - Maddy Taylor Breaks NCAA Goals Record in Quarterfinal Win (5/15/25)
Thursday, May 15
