Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, April 12
University Park, Pa.
10 a.m. CT
Northwestern
at
#18 Penn State
No. 4 Northwestern Heads to No. 18 Penn State For Sunday Road Contest
4/11/2026 3:01:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — No. 4 Northwestern lacrosse will look to extend its five-game winning streak when the team continues its ranked road swing at No. 18 Penn State on Sunday, April 12. Opening draw from Panzer Stadium is slated for 10 a.m. CT on B1G+.
With a win, the Wildcats (10-3, 4-1 Big Ten) would rise to a share of the top spot in the conference standings. Northwestern has now won 15 consecutive road games, the longest streak in the country.
After Thursday's victory, Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is one win away from 400 career wins. Amonte Hiller would be the seventh collegiate women's lacrosse coach and fourth at the Division I level to reach the 400-win club. She'd also become just the second Division I coach to record at least 400 wins at a single program.
Sunday marks the 'Cats' eighth ranked matchup this season. NU has defeated six of its seven ranked opponents this season, the program's most regular-season ranked victories since 2018 (7).
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw controls per game (16.69), scoring margin (6.31 goals per game), scoring offense (15.62 GPG), shots per game (33.92), shots on goal per game (24.08) and clearing percentage (92.2%).
427: Madison Taylor's career points tally, the most among all active NCAA Division I players. She and Izzy Scane are the only Wildcats to eclipse the 400-point mark. Taylor ranks No. 7 in the NCAA's all-time scoring leaderboard. She is 56 points away from tying Scane's program record of 483 points, as well as six points behind two-time Tewaaraton Award winner Charlotte North (433).
307: Taylor leads active NCAA DI players in career goals. She and Scane are the only players in Big Ten history to net 300-plus career goals. With a conference-high 62 goals in 13 games this season, Taylor has jumped into No. 2 in Wildcat history and No. 8 in NCAA history in career goals.
693: Jenika Cuocco's career saves figure; the highest among all active NCAA Division I players. Cuocco ranks second in the Big Ten in saves this season (111). At 8.54 saves per game, the graduate student is on pace for a top-five goalkeeping season in program history.
527: Maddie Epke's career draw controls, which ranks No. 7 among all-time NCAA Division I players. Epke leads all active DI players in draw controls and has pulled down 42 this season.
14: Seasons since a program has picked up multiple wins against No. 1-ranked teams in the IWLCA Coaches Poll in a single season (Florida, 2012). Northwestern accomplished that feat on Thursday, April 9, knocking off No. 1 Maryland, 11-10. The 'Cats previously beat then-No. 1 UNC 17-16 on March 25.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern erased a two-goal halftime deficit and toppled No. 1 Maryland, 11-10, on Thursday night at SECU Stadium for its second top-ranked win in 17 days. Madison Taylor recorded a game-high five points (four goals, one assist), and Aditi Foster netted a hat trick.
Jenika Cuocco posted nine saves, seven of which came in the first half.
The 'Cats forced the Terrapins into 16 turnovers, their second-highest mark in Big Ten play this year. NU outscored the hosts 8-5 in the second half.
Since 2023, the Wildcats have four wins over No. 1-ranked squads, the highest such figure in the nation.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions (11-3, 3-2 Big Ten) enter Sunday on the back of a two-game winning streak, most recently defeating Oregon, 19-9, on Thursday night. Led by head coach Kayla Treanor, Penn State won its first nine games in 2026.
Kelly MacKinney has paced the Nittany Lion attack with 66 points in 14 starts (36 goals, 30 assists). Delaney Radin quarterbacks the PSU offense with a Big Ten-high 44 assists, as well as 21 goals in 2026. Dynamic rookie Rocquette Allen has recorded 52 points this year. The Nittany Lions hold the conference's most efficient shooting offense, netting 51.5% of their shots.
Emma Kelly directs the Penn State draw team with 100 draw controls on the year's campaign.
In the cage, Sydney Manning has posted 106 saves on a 50.5% save percentage. She boasts a 9.31 goals against average.
SERIES STUFF
Sunday marks the 40th all-time matchup between the two programs, with Northwestern holding a 29-10 advantage in the series. Last season, the Wildcats defeated the Nittany Lions, 16-7, at Ryan Fieldhouse on March 16, 2025. NU has won seven of its last eight games against PSU.
NEXT UP
Northwestern returns home for its penultimate Big Ten regular-season game against RV Rutgers on Wednesday, April 15. Opening draw from Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on B1G+.
With a win, the Wildcats (10-3, 4-1 Big Ten) would rise to a share of the top spot in the conference standings. Northwestern has now won 15 consecutive road games, the longest streak in the country.
After Thursday's victory, Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is one win away from 400 career wins. Amonte Hiller would be the seventh collegiate women's lacrosse coach and fourth at the Division I level to reach the 400-win club. She'd also become just the second Division I coach to record at least 400 wins at a single program.
Sunday marks the 'Cats' eighth ranked matchup this season. NU has defeated six of its seven ranked opponents this season, the program's most regular-season ranked victories since 2018 (7).
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw controls per game (16.69), scoring margin (6.31 goals per game), scoring offense (15.62 GPG), shots per game (33.92), shots on goal per game (24.08) and clearing percentage (92.2%).
427: Madison Taylor's career points tally, the most among all active NCAA Division I players. She and Izzy Scane are the only Wildcats to eclipse the 400-point mark. Taylor ranks No. 7 in the NCAA's all-time scoring leaderboard. She is 56 points away from tying Scane's program record of 483 points, as well as six points behind two-time Tewaaraton Award winner Charlotte North (433).
307: Taylor leads active NCAA DI players in career goals. She and Scane are the only players in Big Ten history to net 300-plus career goals. With a conference-high 62 goals in 13 games this season, Taylor has jumped into No. 2 in Wildcat history and No. 8 in NCAA history in career goals.
693: Jenika Cuocco's career saves figure; the highest among all active NCAA Division I players. Cuocco ranks second in the Big Ten in saves this season (111). At 8.54 saves per game, the graduate student is on pace for a top-five goalkeeping season in program history.
527: Maddie Epke's career draw controls, which ranks No. 7 among all-time NCAA Division I players. Epke leads all active DI players in draw controls and has pulled down 42 this season.
14: Seasons since a program has picked up multiple wins against No. 1-ranked teams in the IWLCA Coaches Poll in a single season (Florida, 2012). Northwestern accomplished that feat on Thursday, April 9, knocking off No. 1 Maryland, 11-10. The 'Cats previously beat then-No. 1 UNC 17-16 on March 25.
'Cats DUB. ????
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 10, 2026
The Lake Show's ?????? win vs. No. 1 ranked team this season, the first DI team to do so since 2012 ?? pic.twitter.com/any49scy9a
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern erased a two-goal halftime deficit and toppled No. 1 Maryland, 11-10, on Thursday night at SECU Stadium for its second top-ranked win in 17 days. Madison Taylor recorded a game-high five points (four goals, one assist), and Aditi Foster netted a hat trick.
It was always the 'Cats ??
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 10, 2026
NU 11 | UMD 10 pic.twitter.com/Bp22EzyvOE
Jenika Cuocco posted nine saves, seven of which came in the first half.
The 'Cats forced the Terrapins into 16 turnovers, their second-highest mark in Big Ten play this year. NU outscored the hosts 8-5 in the second half.
Since 2023, the Wildcats have four wins over No. 1-ranked squads, the highest such figure in the nation.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions (11-3, 3-2 Big Ten) enter Sunday on the back of a two-game winning streak, most recently defeating Oregon, 19-9, on Thursday night. Led by head coach Kayla Treanor, Penn State won its first nine games in 2026.
Kelly MacKinney has paced the Nittany Lion attack with 66 points in 14 starts (36 goals, 30 assists). Delaney Radin quarterbacks the PSU offense with a Big Ten-high 44 assists, as well as 21 goals in 2026. Dynamic rookie Rocquette Allen has recorded 52 points this year. The Nittany Lions hold the conference's most efficient shooting offense, netting 51.5% of their shots.
Emma Kelly directs the Penn State draw team with 100 draw controls on the year's campaign.
In the cage, Sydney Manning has posted 106 saves on a 50.5% save percentage. She boasts a 9.31 goals against average.
SERIES STUFF
Sunday marks the 40th all-time matchup between the two programs, with Northwestern holding a 29-10 advantage in the series. Last season, the Wildcats defeated the Nittany Lions, 16-7, at Ryan Fieldhouse on March 16, 2025. NU has won seven of its last eight games against PSU.
NEXT UP
Northwestern returns home for its penultimate Big Ten regular-season game against RV Rutgers on Wednesday, April 15. Opening draw from Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - ‘Cats Knock Off No. 1 Maryland 11-10 (4/09/26)
Friday, April 10
Lacrosse - Northwestern Rolls Past USC 11-5 on Lacrosse Day in Chicago (4/04/26)
Saturday, April 04
Lacrosse - Kelly Amonte Hiller Previews Lacrosse Day in Chicago on B1G Today (4/1/26)
Wednesday, April 01
Lacrosse - Northwestern Tops No. 7 Johns Hopkins 16-12 (3/39/26)
Sunday, March 29
