Sunday, May 25
Foxborough, Mass.
11 a.m. CT
Northwestern
19-3
8
vs
12
North Carolina
22-0
1
2
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4
F
Northwestern
1
1
2
4
8
North Carolina
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2
2
5
12
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
No. 2 Wildcats Fall to No. 1 Tar Heels in NCAA Final
5/25/2025 1:25:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Delaney Sweitzer set a new a school record with 17 saves, but No. 2 Northwestern fell to No. 1 North Carolina, 12-8, in Sunday's NCAA final at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Sweitzer's 17 saves breaks the previous record of 16 set by Madison Doucette (2022 vs. Michigan) and Julie Krupnick (2019 vs. Dartmouth). In a defensive showdown, graduate Jane Hansen led all players with five caused turnovers and four groundballs while also netting a goal herself. The Wildcats (19-3) held the Tar Heels (22-0) nearly six goals below their nation-leading average of 17.71 goals per game.
Playing in a third-straight NCAA final, Madison Taylor led the team with four points (4 assists), finishing the postseason with 33 points. Her point total was tied for the second highest in a single NCAA Tournament with Boston College's Charlotte North (2021). Taylor's school-record 158 total points this season are the second most in NCAA history. She also finishes the season with an NCAA record 109 goals.
The setback snaps Northwestern's 11-game winning streak as it falls to 8-3 in national championship games. NU has made the Final Four in 16 of its 21-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a streak that began in 2005.
After both goalies traded saves to keep the game scoreless in the opening minutes, Northwestern got on track when Abby LoCascio fired home a centering feed from Taylor with 8:44 left in the first quarter. The Wildcats' defense continued holding strong in a quarter where they forced five Tar Heel turnovers, though Chloe Humphrey eventually found an opening and tied it up with 5:46, helping UNC close the quarter on a 3-0 run.
The Tar Heels extended their lead to 5-1 with 9:17 to play in the half as the Wildcats went 16:50 without a goal. Taylor Lapointe ended the scoring drought with 6:54 showing on the clock when she beat Betty Nelson from atop the circle. Emerson Bohlig picked up the assist on Lapointe's 23rd goal of the season, which closed the first half scoring with NU trailing 5-2.
After a stellar first half including nine saves, Sweitzer stopped Chloe Humphrey on a free position attempt, which allowed the Wildcats to go in transition. Sam Smith ran down the field and netted an unassisted shorthanded goal to pull NU within 5-3 with 11:26 remaining in the third.
After North Carolina scored the next two to bump the lead to 7-3, Jane Hansen caused her fifth turnover of the game and started another transition opportunity, where Taylor found Lucy Munro to cut the gap to 7-4. That score held going into the fourth quarter and was as close as NU would get the rest of the way as UNC got the lead up to 10-4 with 7:45 left.
Sweitzer, Hansen and Taylor were named to the all-tournament team.
The Wildcats finish the 2025 season with a 19-3 record having made six-straight Final Fours and three-straight NCAA final appearances. This is the 12th time Northwestern has won at least 19 games in Big Ten Coach of the Year Kelly Amonte Hiller's 24 seasons, all of which have come since 2005. NU is slated to host the 2026 Final Four at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Sweitzer's 17 saves breaks the previous record of 16 set by Madison Doucette (2022 vs. Michigan) and Julie Krupnick (2019 vs. Dartmouth). In a defensive showdown, graduate Jane Hansen led all players with five caused turnovers and four groundballs while also netting a goal herself. The Wildcats (19-3) held the Tar Heels (22-0) nearly six goals below their nation-leading average of 17.71 goals per game.
Playing in a third-straight NCAA final, Madison Taylor led the team with four points (4 assists), finishing the postseason with 33 points. Her point total was tied for the second highest in a single NCAA Tournament with Boston College's Charlotte North (2021). Taylor's school-record 158 total points this season are the second most in NCAA history. She also finishes the season with an NCAA record 109 goals.
Final from Foxborough ??
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 25, 2025
Fought until the end. #GoCats pic.twitter.com/8PjkpZIbKp
The setback snaps Northwestern's 11-game winning streak as it falls to 8-3 in national championship games. NU has made the Final Four in 16 of its 21-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a streak that began in 2005.
After both goalies traded saves to keep the game scoreless in the opening minutes, Northwestern got on track when Abby LoCascio fired home a centering feed from Taylor with 8:44 left in the first quarter. The Wildcats' defense continued holding strong in a quarter where they forced five Tar Heel turnovers, though Chloe Humphrey eventually found an opening and tied it up with 5:46, helping UNC close the quarter on a 3-0 run.
The Tar Heels extended their lead to 5-1 with 9:17 to play in the half as the Wildcats went 16:50 without a goal. Taylor Lapointe ended the scoring drought with 6:54 showing on the clock when she beat Betty Nelson from atop the circle. Emerson Bohlig picked up the assist on Lapointe's 23rd goal of the season, which closed the first half scoring with NU trailing 5-2.
After a stellar first half including nine saves, Sweitzer stopped Chloe Humphrey on a free position attempt, which allowed the Wildcats to go in transition. Sam Smith ran down the field and netted an unassisted shorthanded goal to pull NU within 5-3 with 11:26 remaining in the third.
After North Carolina scored the next two to bump the lead to 7-3, Jane Hansen caused her fifth turnover of the game and started another transition opportunity, where Taylor found Lucy Munro to cut the gap to 7-4. That score held going into the fourth quarter and was as close as NU would get the rest of the way as UNC got the lead up to 10-4 with 7:45 left.
Sweitzer, Hansen and Taylor were named to the all-tournament team.
The Wildcats finish the 2025 season with a 19-3 record having made six-straight Final Fours and three-straight NCAA final appearances. This is the 12th time Northwestern has won at least 19 games in Big Ten Coach of the Year Kelly Amonte Hiller's 24 seasons, all of which have come since 2005. NU is slated to host the 2026 Final Four at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Team Stats
NU
UNC
Shots
22
35
Turnovers
16
14
Caused Turnovers
10
14
Draw Controls
7
17
Free-Position Shots
1
5
Ground Balls
21
15
Game Leaders
Players
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
4
CT
5
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's LacrosseD
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
G
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - 'Cats Fall to North Carolina in National Championship Game
Sunday, May 25
Lacrosse - NCAA Semifinal Postgame Press Conference (5/23/25)
Saturday, May 24
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
