Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
5-1
#16 Stony Brook
3-1
No. 4 ’Cats Battle Back for 13-12 Road Victory Over No. 18 Stony Brook
2/28/2026 12:59:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STONY BROOK, N.Y. — No. 4 Northwestern stormed back from a two-goal fourth-quarter deficit to defeat No. 18 Stony Brook 13-12 on Saturday at LaValle Stadium.
Senior attacker Madison Taylor (four goals) and sophomore attacker Aditi Foster (two goals, three assists) combined for nine points to fuel the Wildcats (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) in a back-and-forth battle on Long Island. NU scored three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to complete its comeback.
Taylor, one of six Long Island natives on the roster who returned home on Saturday, leads the nation with 30 goals in six starts. She has scored 42 points this season.
Foster has scored 19 points in the past three games, eclipsing her point tally in the entire 2025 season (17) during that span.
Junior attacker Taylor Lapointe buried three goals, including the game-winner on a free-position shot with 99 seconds remaining. Lapointe, who converted all three of her shots into finishes, extended her season goals tally to 10.
Graduate student attacker Olivia Adamson opened the scoring and finished with a pair of goals in the win. Senior attacker Maddie Epke and first-year midfielder Gabriella McCollester each chipped in a goal.
Graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco posted nine saves, seven of which came in the second half. She made four stops in the final 15 minutes to record a fourth-quarter shutout.
Redshirt sophomore midfielder Madison Smith pulled down a team-high six draw controls, while Taylor added three. On the defensive end, first-year midfielder Kate Ratanaproeksa recorded two ground balls, two caused turnovers and a pair of draw controls.
The Seawolves (3-1, 0-0 CAA) led 5-4 after the opening quarter, but the 'Cats outscored the hosts 5-3 in the second frame to build a 9-8 halftime lead.
While Stony Brook recaptured a 12-10 advantage entering the final quarter, Northwestern saved its best defensive stretch for the game's closing moments.
Lapointe struck first in the fourth quarter before Taylor tied the contest with just over eight minutes to play. In the final two minutes, Lapointe's decisive goal clinched the team's second road win of the 2026 campaign.
The Wildcats will be back in action for their final home non-conference game on Thursday, March 12 against Syracuse. Opening draw at Ryan Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on B1G+.
