Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Ohio State
Madison Taylor Scores 10 Points in NU’s 16-15 Loss to Ohio State
3/15/2026 3:12:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — No. 4 Northwestern fell 16-15 to Ohio State in its Big Ten opener on Sunday afternoon inside Ryan Fieldhouse
"We started off slow today, and that hurt us," Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. "Ohio State played well."
Senior attacker Madison Taylor posted a game-high 10 points (seven goals, three assists), but the Wildcats (5-3, 0-1 Big Ten) couldn't turn her prolific scoring performance into a result. The Buckeyes (6-2, 1-0 Big Ten) ended NU's 17-game winning streak against conference foes.
Senior midfielder Lucy Munro recorded four points (one goals, three assists), while junior attacker Taylor Lapointe added three goals and an assist. Graduate student attacker Olivia Adamson, junior midfielder Noel Cumberland, redshirt junior attacker Abby LoCascio and sophomore attacker Aditi Foster each scored a goal.
The hosts commanded the draw circle, prevailing 21-12 on draw controls. Redshirt junior midfielder Madison Smith pulled down a game-high nine draw controls, while first-year midfielder Kate Ratanaproeksa excelled on the circle with six draw controls
The visitors built a 5-1 first quarter advantage, but NU launched a 5-0 run to lead 6-5 after 15 minutes of action.
The 'Cats extended the margin to 10-6 with less than five minutes remaining in the half, but Ohio State scored three consecutive goals to end the half at 10-9.
After a back-and-forth third quarter, Northwestern carried a 13-12 lead into the final frame. The two teams traded goals early in the fourth quarter before the Buckeyes took a 15-14 lead with 4:31 remaining.
Lapointe leveled the score with just over two minutes to play, but Ohio State netted the winner on its ensuing offensive possession.
"We score one more goal on one of those shots, and it's a different game," Amonte Hiller said. "It's hard. It's a game of inches, and when you're in the conference, you have to be able to step up in every moment from wire to wire. We had a lot of good moments and a lot of improvement from Thursday but just not enough."
The Wildcats will return to action at Oregon on Saturday, March 21. Opening draw from Eugene is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on B1G+.
