Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, April 18
Ann Arbor, Mich.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
#11 Michigan
Photo by: Henry Frieman/Northwestern Athletics
No. 2 NU Vies for Fourth Straight Outright Big Ten Title at No. 11 Michigan
4/17/2026 11:10:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After taking down No. 22 Rutgers 18-6 on Wednesday afternoon, No. 2 Northwestern heads to No. 11 Michigan for its regular season finale on Saturday, April 18. Opening draw is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
With a win, the Wildcats (12-3, 6-1 Big Ten) will clinch an outright Big Ten regular season title for the fourth consecutive season.
Northwestern boasts a 16-game road winning streak, the longest in the country. Per the NCAA RPI, the Wildcats rank No. 1 in the country in strength of schedule.
Four 2026 WLL College Draft selections will compete in Saturday's matchup, with graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco and senior attackers Madison Taylor and Maddie Epke lining up for the 'Cats and Ava Class competing for the Wolverines.
CLINCHING SCENARIO
Northwestern has clinched a share of the Big Ten regular season title. NU will win the outright title with a victory.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw controls per game (16.8), scoring margin (6.6 goals per game), scoring offense (15.87 GPG), shots per game (34.33), shots on goal per game (24.4) and clearing percentage (92.7%).
444: Madison Taylor's career points tally, the most among active NCAA Division I players. She and Izzy Scane are the only Wildcats to eclipse the 400-point mark. Taylor ranks fifth all-time in scoring and is the only player in Big Ten history to post 400 career points and 200 career draw controls. She is 39 points away from tying Scane's program record of 483 and 54 behind the NCAA's all-time record, held by Kylie Ohlmiller.
319: Taylor leads active players in career goals. She and Scane are the only Big Ten players to ever net 300+ goals. With 74 goals in 15 games this season, Taylor has jumped into No. 2 in NU history and No. 5 in NCAA history.
709: Career saves for Jenika Cuocco, which ranks No. 1 among all active NCAA goalies. The graduate student has compiled 127 saves on a 49.4% save percentage this year.
542: Maddie Epke's career draw control count. She leads all active NCAA DI players in DCs, ranking seventh in the all-time leaderboard. Epke has 57 draw controls this season and was one of three players selected in Wednesday night's WLL College Draft, alongside Taylor and Cuocco.
5: Big Ten regular season championships for Northwestern, the second-most in the Big Ten behind Maryland (6).
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern secured its eighth ranked victory of the 2026 campaign, defeating No. 22 Rutgers 18-6. Taylor led all scorers with eight points (six goals, two assists). Noel Cumberland scored a career-high three goals. Aditi Foster and Taylor Lapointe each tallied four points to help the 'Cats put forth their most prolific scoring display in conference action this year.
Jenika Cuocco posted 10 saves on a 66.7% save percentage to hold the Scarlet Knights to their lowest scoring output this season.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The Wolverines (11-4, 5-2 Big Ten) enter Saturday's matchup after a 15-4 upset of No. 3 Maryland on Thursday. They were the first team to secure a running clock on the Terrapins this year.
Led by head coach Hannah Nielsen, a two-time Tewaaraton Award winner and four-time national champion at Northwestern, Michigan has recorded double-digit wins every year since 2022. Regular fixtures in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines have long fielded one of the country's top defensive units.
Ava Class (46 points), Emma Bradbury (50 points) and Cali Norris (44 points) spearhead a balanced Michigan offense.
Rookie Elizabeth Johnson has enjoyed a standout season in the cage. She has compiled 111 saves on a 47.8% save percentage.
Emma Burke leads the Wolverine draw unit, pulling down 138 draw controls this season.
SERIES STUFF
Saturday will mark the 19th all-time meeting between the two programs, dating back to 2014. Northwestern holds an 18-0 record against Michigan.
NEXT UP
The Wildcats will return to Ann Arbor for the Big Ten Tournament, which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 26. NU has won three straight conference tournament titles.
With a win, the Wildcats (12-3, 6-1 Big Ten) will clinch an outright Big Ten regular season title for the fourth consecutive season.
Northwestern boasts a 16-game road winning streak, the longest in the country. Per the NCAA RPI, the Wildcats rank No. 1 in the country in strength of schedule.
Four 2026 WLL College Draft selections will compete in Saturday's matchup, with graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco and senior attackers Madison Taylor and Maddie Epke lining up for the 'Cats and Ava Class competing for the Wolverines.
RD. 1, PICK 1 #MaddyT @wlacrosseleague @wllpalms pic.twitter.com/icTQGXFUbj
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 15, 2026
CLINCHING SCENARIO
Northwestern has clinched a share of the Big Ten regular season title. NU will win the outright title with a victory.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw controls per game (16.8), scoring margin (6.6 goals per game), scoring offense (15.87 GPG), shots per game (34.33), shots on goal per game (24.4) and clearing percentage (92.7%).
444: Madison Taylor's career points tally, the most among active NCAA Division I players. She and Izzy Scane are the only Wildcats to eclipse the 400-point mark. Taylor ranks fifth all-time in scoring and is the only player in Big Ten history to post 400 career points and 200 career draw controls. She is 39 points away from tying Scane's program record of 483 and 54 behind the NCAA's all-time record, held by Kylie Ohlmiller.
319: Taylor leads active players in career goals. She and Scane are the only Big Ten players to ever net 300+ goals. With 74 goals in 15 games this season, Taylor has jumped into No. 2 in NU history and No. 5 in NCAA history.
709: Career saves for Jenika Cuocco, which ranks No. 1 among all active NCAA goalies. The graduate student has compiled 127 saves on a 49.4% save percentage this year.
542: Maddie Epke's career draw control count. She leads all active NCAA DI players in DCs, ranking seventh in the all-time leaderboard. Epke has 57 draw controls this season and was one of three players selected in Wednesday night's WLL College Draft, alongside Taylor and Cuocco.
5: Big Ten regular season championships for Northwestern, the second-most in the Big Ten behind Maryland (6).
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern secured its eighth ranked victory of the 2026 campaign, defeating No. 22 Rutgers 18-6. Taylor led all scorers with eight points (six goals, two assists). Noel Cumberland scored a career-high three goals. Aditi Foster and Taylor Lapointe each tallied four points to help the 'Cats put forth their most prolific scoring display in conference action this year.
Jenika Cuocco posted 10 saves on a 66.7% save percentage to hold the Scarlet Knights to their lowest scoring output this season.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The Wolverines (11-4, 5-2 Big Ten) enter Saturday's matchup after a 15-4 upset of No. 3 Maryland on Thursday. They were the first team to secure a running clock on the Terrapins this year.
Led by head coach Hannah Nielsen, a two-time Tewaaraton Award winner and four-time national champion at Northwestern, Michigan has recorded double-digit wins every year since 2022. Regular fixtures in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines have long fielded one of the country's top defensive units.
Ava Class (46 points), Emma Bradbury (50 points) and Cali Norris (44 points) spearhead a balanced Michigan offense.
Rookie Elizabeth Johnson has enjoyed a standout season in the cage. She has compiled 111 saves on a 47.8% save percentage.
Emma Burke leads the Wolverine draw unit, pulling down 138 draw controls this season.
SERIES STUFF
Saturday will mark the 19th all-time meeting between the two programs, dating back to 2014. Northwestern holds an 18-0 record against Michigan.
NEXT UP
The Wildcats will return to Ann Arbor for the Big Ten Tournament, which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 26. NU has won three straight conference tournament titles.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - Lake Show Handles Business Against No. 22 Rutgers, 18-6 (4/15/2026)
Thursday, April 16
Lacrosse - Cats Defeat No. 18 PSU 17-12 in Conference Road Win (04/12/26)
Sunday, April 12
Lacrosse - ‘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
