Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 24
Ann Arbor, Mich.
10 a.m. CT
Northwestern
at
#8 Michigan
Photo by: Kailey Zagst/Northwestern Athletics
Top-seeded ’Cats Take on No. 4-seed Michigan in Big Ten Tournament Semifinal
4/23/2026 3:37:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 1-seed Northwestern will face a familiar foe in No. 4-seed Michigan in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal matchup on Friday, Feb. 24, in U-M Lacrosse Stadium. Due to expected inclement weather in the area, opening draw is now scheduled for 10 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
The Wildcats (13-3, 7-1 Big Ten) are 8-3 all-time in Big Ten semifinal games. Northwestern enters Friday's postseason clash on an eight-game winning streak, having rattled off seven straight conference games to secure its fourth consecutive outright Big Ten regular season title.
This marks the second game in just six days between the 'Cats and the Wolverines.
NUMBERS TO KNOW: Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw control percentage (62.1%), draw controls per game (16.31), free position percentage (52.6%), scoring margin (6.31 goals per game), scoring offense (15.44 GPG), shots per game (34.13), shots on goal per game (24.25) and clearing percentage (93.1%).
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern erased a two-goal fourth quarter deficit to defeat Michigan 9-7 on April 18 in U-M Lacrosse Stadium. With the win, the Wildcats won their fourth consecutive outright Big Ten regular season title and tied Maryland for the most Big Ten regular season titles (6) in conference history.
Taylor led all scorers with four points (three goals, one assist), Aditi Foster fired in three goals and Noel Cumberland converted a crucial insurance goal to cap a 4-0 fourth quarter run.
Cuocco posted seven saves on a 50% save percentage. Behind her brilliance between the pipes, Northwestern has relented just 6.5 goals per game in its last two outings.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The Wolverines (12-5, 5-3 Big Ten) enter Friday's semifinal after a 13-12 victory over No. 4-seed Penn State on Wednesday. They've won two of their past three games, taking down then-No. 3 Maryland with a running clock on April 16, 15-4.
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.
Emma Bradbury (56 points), Calli Norris (53 points) and Ava Class (48 points) spearhead a balanced Michigan attack.
The Wolverines' draw specialist, Emma Burke, has pulled down a team-high 156 draw controls this season. She recorded 13 draw controls in Michigan's quarterfinal win.
Elizabeth Johnson backstops the Wolverine defense. She has posted 131 saves on a 48.2% save percentage this season.
SERIES STUFF
Friday will mark the 20th all-time meeting between the two programs, dating back to 2014. Northwestern has won all 19 of its matchups with Michigan.
NEXT UP
With a win, the Wildcats would advance to their fourth consecutive Big Ten Championship game, which will be held on Sunday, April 26, at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. Opening draw of the tournament final is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
The Wildcats (13-3, 7-1 Big Ten) are 8-3 all-time in Big Ten semifinal games. Northwestern enters Friday's postseason clash on an eight-game winning streak, having rattled off seven straight conference games to secure its fourth consecutive outright Big Ten regular season title.
This marks the second game in just six days between the 'Cats and the Wolverines.
NUMBERS TO KNOW: Northwestern leads the Big Ten in draw control percentage (62.1%), draw controls per game (16.31), free position percentage (52.6%), scoring margin (6.31 goals per game), scoring offense (15.44 GPG), shots per game (34.13), shots on goal per game (24.25) and clearing percentage (93.1%).
- 6: Consecutive wins in conference tournament games for Northwestern, dating back to May 4, 2023. The Wildcats are vying for their fourth straight Big Ten Tournament title.
- 448: Career points for senior attacker Madison Taylor, the most among active NCAA Division I players and No. 4 in NCAA history. Taylor is 35 points behind Izzy Scane's Wildcat record of 483 and 50 away from Kylie Ohlmiller's career NCAA record. With two points on Friday, Taylor would become the first player in Division I history to record 450 points and 200 draw controls.
- 716: Career saves for Jenika Cuocco, the No. 1 figure among active NCAA Division I goalkeepers. The dynamic graduate transfer has compiled 134 saves on a 49.4% save percentage this season.
- 544: Career draw controls for Maddie Epke, the NCAA's active DC leader. Epke, Taylor and Cuocco were selected in the inaugural WLL College Draft on April 14.
- 1: Northwestern's strength of schedule, per the NCAA RPI metrics. The Wildcats are the first team to knock off multiple No. 1 ranked squads in the same season since Florida did so in 2012.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern erased a two-goal fourth quarter deficit to defeat Michigan 9-7 on April 18 in U-M Lacrosse Stadium. With the win, the Wildcats won their fourth consecutive outright Big Ten regular season title and tied Maryland for the most Big Ten regular season titles (6) in conference history.
Taylor led all scorers with four points (three goals, one assist), Aditi Foster fired in three goals and Noel Cumberland converted a crucial insurance goal to cap a 4-0 fourth quarter run.
Cuocco posted seven saves on a 50% save percentage. Behind her brilliance between the pipes, Northwestern has relented just 6.5 goals per game in its last two outings.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The Wolverines (12-5, 5-3 Big Ten) enter Friday's semifinal after a 13-12 victory over No. 4-seed Penn State on Wednesday. They've won two of their past three games, taking down then-No. 3 Maryland with a running clock on April 16, 15-4.
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.
Emma Bradbury (56 points), Calli Norris (53 points) and Ava Class (48 points) spearhead a balanced Michigan attack.
The Wolverines' draw specialist, Emma Burke, has pulled down a team-high 156 draw controls this season. She recorded 13 draw controls in Michigan's quarterfinal win.
Elizabeth Johnson backstops the Wolverine defense. She has posted 131 saves on a 48.2% save percentage this season.
SERIES STUFF
Friday will mark the 20th all-time meeting between the two programs, dating back to 2014. Northwestern has won all 19 of its matchups with Michigan.
NEXT UP
With a win, the Wildcats would advance to their fourth consecutive Big Ten Championship game, which will be held on Sunday, April 26, at U-M Lacrosse Stadium. Opening draw of the tournament final is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
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