Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Andy Mead/Northwestern Athletics
Jenika Cuocco Garners Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Honors
3/31/2026 3:34:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for her role in Northwestern's victories over then-No. 1 North Carolina and then-No. 7 Johns Hopkins, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon.
Cuocco is the first Wildcat to receive conference defensive player of the week honors since Jane Hansen did so on March 4, 2025. This marks her second player of the week award, having been named IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.
The graduate student posted 23 saves across Northwestern's two top-10 victories as the Wildcats became the first team in the past two seasons to take down two top-10 teams within the same week. She amassed a 45.1% save percentage in the two-game stretch.
Cuocco recorded 12 saves in NU's 17-16 overtime win over the previously undefeated Tar Heels. In the overtime frame, Cuocco denied a free-position attempt on the doorstep to set up senior attacker Madison Taylor's game winning goal.
Four days later, Cuocco tallied 11 stops and a season-high six ground balls as the 'Cats knocked off then-No. 7 Johns Hopkins 16-12.
The Sound Beach, N.Y., native leads all active NCAA Division I players with 675 career saves. She has recorded 93 saves on a 47.9% save percentage in 2026.
Cuocco is the first Wildcat to receive conference defensive player of the week honors since Jane Hansen did so on March 4, 2025. This marks her second player of the week award, having been named IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.
The graduate student posted 23 saves across Northwestern's two top-10 victories as the Wildcats became the first team in the past two seasons to take down two top-10 teams within the same week. She amassed a 45.1% save percentage in the two-game stretch.
Cuocco recorded 12 saves in NU's 17-16 overtime win over the previously undefeated Tar Heels. In the overtime frame, Cuocco denied a free-position attempt on the doorstep to set up senior attacker Madison Taylor's game winning goal.
Four days later, Cuocco tallied 11 stops and a season-high six ground balls as the 'Cats knocked off then-No. 7 Johns Hopkins 16-12.
The Sound Beach, N.Y., native leads all active NCAA Division I players with 675 career saves. She has recorded 93 saves on a 47.9% save percentage in 2026.
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