Sunday, May 11
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Michigan
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
No. 2 Wildcats Host No. 13 Wolverines in NCAA Second Round Sunday
5/9/2025 4:26:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. – The No. 2 Wildcats' quest for a ninth national title begins on Sunday, May 11, when they square off against No. 13 Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament inside Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Opening draw is set for 2 p.m. CT with the game airing on ESPN+.
Northwestern (13-6) won its third-straight Big Ten Tournament title with two wins that happened in very different ways two weeks ago. In its semifinal tilt against No. 9 Johns Hopkins, Northwestern led for the final 47:10, but the high-scoring affair was hotly contested throughout. After erasing an early 2-1 deficit, Madison Taylor put the 'Cats in front for good with 2:10 left in the first quarter. That was part of a 5-0 scoring run that put NU up 6-2 with 11:39 left in the half. Niki Miles led the team with a season-high five goals and six points while Taylor chipped in four goals and an assist.
The championship against tournament-host No. 7 Maryland was much lower scoring. NU outshot UMD 41-19, but struggled to find the back of the net. The Wildcats trailed 5-2 at halftime and fell behind 6-2 midway through the third quarter before closing the game on a 6-1 run over the final 22:30. Aditi Foster's first goals since Feb. 25 both began and ended the comeback triumph, with her second tally of the day snapping a 7-7 tie with 15 seconds remaining to secure the victory. Taylor and fellow USA Lacrosse All-Americans Sammy White (First Team), Jane Hansen (Second Team), Sam Smith (Third Team) and Delaney Sweitzer (Honorable Mention) earned Big Ten All-Tournament Team honors with Hansen being named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Northwestern is 57-17 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, which includes a 56-12 mark under 2025 Big Ten Coach of the Year Kelly Amonte Hiller. The Wildcats have won eight national championships, claiming five straight from 2005-09, winning back-to-back titles in 2011-12 and capturing the 2023 crown. Additionally, NU has appeared in two more title games, finishing national runner-up in 2010 and 2024. This marks the Wildcats' 21st-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, a streak that began in 2004.
Under Amonte Hiller, the Wildcats have hosted 33 NCAA Tournament games in Evanston and are a perfect 33-0 in those home postseason tilts. The last time Northwestern lost in the NCAA Tournament in Evanston was on May 6, 1987, where it fell 11-9 in the first round against New Hampshire.
Northwestern takes on Big Ten foe Michigan (13-6) for the second time in four games in Sunday's NCAA Tournament Second Round matchup. The Wildcats topped the Wolverines, 15-6, on April 17 to clinch the Big Ten Conference regular season championship for the third-straight year in front of a program record 3,503 fans. The Wolverines defeated Mid-American Conference champion Akron, 17-6, on Friday afternoon to advance to the second round. Northwestern earned a bye to the tournament's second round by virtue of its top-three seed.
Northwestern is an unblemished 16-0 all-time against the Wolverines, although three of the last six meetings have been decided by three goals or fewer. Sunday's second-round matchup marks the third time in the past four NCAA Tournaments that Northwestern and Michigan have squared off.
The winner of Sunday's second round game will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, May 15 on ESPNU at a time to be determined.
Northwestern (13-6) won its third-straight Big Ten Tournament title with two wins that happened in very different ways two weeks ago. In its semifinal tilt against No. 9 Johns Hopkins, Northwestern led for the final 47:10, but the high-scoring affair was hotly contested throughout. After erasing an early 2-1 deficit, Madison Taylor put the 'Cats in front for good with 2:10 left in the first quarter. That was part of a 5-0 scoring run that put NU up 6-2 with 11:39 left in the half. Niki Miles led the team with a season-high five goals and six points while Taylor chipped in four goals and an assist.
The championship against tournament-host No. 7 Maryland was much lower scoring. NU outshot UMD 41-19, but struggled to find the back of the net. The Wildcats trailed 5-2 at halftime and fell behind 6-2 midway through the third quarter before closing the game on a 6-1 run over the final 22:30. Aditi Foster's first goals since Feb. 25 both began and ended the comeback triumph, with her second tally of the day snapping a 7-7 tie with 15 seconds remaining to secure the victory. Taylor and fellow USA Lacrosse All-Americans Sammy White (First Team), Jane Hansen (Second Team), Sam Smith (Third Team) and Delaney Sweitzer (Honorable Mention) earned Big Ten All-Tournament Team honors with Hansen being named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Northwestern is 57-17 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, which includes a 56-12 mark under 2025 Big Ten Coach of the Year Kelly Amonte Hiller. The Wildcats have won eight national championships, claiming five straight from 2005-09, winning back-to-back titles in 2011-12 and capturing the 2023 crown. Additionally, NU has appeared in two more title games, finishing national runner-up in 2010 and 2024. This marks the Wildcats' 21st-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, a streak that began in 2004.
Under Amonte Hiller, the Wildcats have hosted 33 NCAA Tournament games in Evanston and are a perfect 33-0 in those home postseason tilts. The last time Northwestern lost in the NCAA Tournament in Evanston was on May 6, 1987, where it fell 11-9 in the first round against New Hampshire.
Northwestern takes on Big Ten foe Michigan (13-6) for the second time in four games in Sunday's NCAA Tournament Second Round matchup. The Wildcats topped the Wolverines, 15-6, on April 17 to clinch the Big Ten Conference regular season championship for the third-straight year in front of a program record 3,503 fans. The Wolverines defeated Mid-American Conference champion Akron, 17-6, on Friday afternoon to advance to the second round. Northwestern earned a bye to the tournament's second round by virtue of its top-three seed.
Northwestern is an unblemished 16-0 all-time against the Wolverines, although three of the last six meetings have been decided by three goals or fewer. Sunday's second-round matchup marks the third time in the past four NCAA Tournaments that Northwestern and Michigan have squared off.
The winner of Sunday's second round game will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, May 15 on ESPNU at a time to be determined.
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/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - 'Cats Fall to North Carolina in National Championship Game
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Saturday, May 24
Lacrosse - Maddy Taylor Breaks NCAA Goals Record in Quarterfinal Win (5/15/25)
Thursday, May 15
