ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 2 Northwestern knocked off No. 11 Michigan 9-7 to secure its fourth consecutive outright Big Ten regular season title on Saturday night in U-M Lacrosse Stadium.
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The Wildcats (13-3, 7-1 Big Ten) set the tone early on a blustery night in Ann Arbor and battled back from a two-goal fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Wolverines (11-5, 5-3 Big Ten). With the win, NU has clinched the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
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This is the program's sixth Big Ten regular season title, tying Maryland for the most in conference history.
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Senior attacker Madison Taylor led all scorers with four points (three goals, one assist) and netted the game-winning-goal with 5:46 left to play. In 16 regular-season games, Taylor led the Big Ten in goals (77) and points (104). The senior pulled down a team-high four draw controls in the win.
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"We knew Michigan was a great opponent, and we knew it was gonna be hard," Taylor told Big Ten Network postgame. "We just loved every second of it."
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Sophomore attacker Aditi Foster fired in three goals. Foster has amassed at least two points in eight consecutive games.
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Junior attacker Taylor Lapointe, senior attacker Lucy Munro and junior midfielder Noel Cumberland added goals. Cumberland has now recorded at least a point in 14 consecutive games, a career-best streak for the Fallston, Md., native.
In a battle of elite netminders, graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco posted seven saves on a 50% save percentage. Cuocco tallied a pair of ground balls and a caused turnover.
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The Wildcats outdrew the Wolverines 9-8, with Taylor pacing the effort on the circle. Senior attacker Maddie Epke and Cumberland each pulled down a pair of draw controls. The team's possessional prowess included just seven lost turnovers — NU's fewest against a ranked opponent since May 19, 2018, against No. 2 North Carolina.
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Northwestern built a 3-1 halftime advantage, surrendering its fewest goals in a first half against a ranked opponent since Feb 21, 2025, against then-No. 25 Colorado.
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Michigan jumped ahead 7-5 just over a minute into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats launched a 4-0 run to prevail 9-7. Northwestern has won 13 conference championships in program history.
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The 'Cats await the winner of No. 4 seed Michigan and No. 5 seed Penn State for their second round Big Ten Tournament matchup at U-M Lacrosse Stadium on Friday, April 24. Opening draw from U-M Lacrosse Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
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The Wildcats (13-3, 7-1 Big Ten) set the tone early on a blustery night in Ann Arbor and battled back from a two-goal fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Wolverines (11-5, 5-3 Big Ten). With the win, NU has clinched the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
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This is the program's sixth Big Ten regular season title, tying Maryland for the most in conference history.
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ÂBringing some hardware back home to Evanston ?? pic.twitter.com/lqKlLqzw5t
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 19, 2026
Senior attacker Madison Taylor led all scorers with four points (three goals, one assist) and netted the game-winning-goal with 5:46 left to play. In 16 regular-season games, Taylor led the Big Ten in goals (77) and points (104). The senior pulled down a team-high four draw controls in the win.
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"We knew Michigan was a great opponent, and we knew it was gonna be hard," Taylor told Big Ten Network postgame. "We just loved every second of it."
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Sophomore attacker Aditi Foster fired in three goals. Foster has amassed at least two points in eight consecutive games.
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Junior attacker Taylor Lapointe, senior attacker Lucy Munro and junior midfielder Noel Cumberland added goals. Cumberland has now recorded at least a point in 14 consecutive games, a career-best streak for the Fallston, Md., native.
In a battle of elite netminders, graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco posted seven saves on a 50% save percentage. Cuocco tallied a pair of ground balls and a caused turnover.
Â
The Wildcats outdrew the Wolverines 9-8, with Taylor pacing the effort on the circle. Senior attacker Maddie Epke and Cumberland each pulled down a pair of draw controls. The team's possessional prowess included just seven lost turnovers — NU's fewest against a ranked opponent since May 19, 2018, against No. 2 North Carolina.
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Northwestern built a 3-1 halftime advantage, surrendering its fewest goals in a first half against a ranked opponent since Feb 21, 2025, against then-No. 25 Colorado.
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Michigan jumped ahead 7-5 just over a minute into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats launched a 4-0 run to prevail 9-7. Northwestern has won 13 conference championships in program history.
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The 'Cats await the winner of No. 4 seed Michigan and No. 5 seed Penn State for their second round Big Ten Tournament matchup at U-M Lacrosse Stadium on Friday, April 24. Opening draw from U-M Lacrosse Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.