Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Jenika Cuocco Finds ‘Childlike’ Joy in Graduate Year at Northwestern
5/9/2026 11:16:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Jenika Cuocco never imagined she'd be in this spot.
The Sound Beach, N.Y., native first stepped in front of the cage as a third grader. The decision forged a path for Cuocco to ascend among the game's elite. The graduate student goalkeeper will backstop the top-seeded Northwestern defense as she enters her final NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
"There was an opening for a [goalie] spot in third grade, and I was begging my mom because I was so off running," Cuocco said. "I was just like, 'This field stuff is not for me.' I started playing it, and I fell in love with it. And thank goodness, because it's taken me here and definitely further than what I had in mind. I'm super grateful for it, and it's brought amazing people into my life."
Cuocco has racked up 161 saves on a 51.6% save percentage this season, earning Second Team USA Lacrosse All-American honors. She sits nine saves away from breaking Northwestern's single-season saves record, which Mallory Weisse set in 2017 (169).
The graduate student tends to elevate her game in crucial moments. She shattered the Wildcats' single-game record with 18 saves on a 72% save percentage as NU took down Maryland 8-7 in a Big Ten Championship overtime classic on April 26.
"She's our rock, for sure," redshirt junior defender Jaylen Rosga said. "She keeps us level, and it's been awesome to have her on the team."
The netminder said she's seen significant improvement in her mindset since she first stepped on campus in the fall.
"I've just become so grateful for every opportunity and moment that's been given to us," Cuocco said. "I've definitely just fallen in love with the sport again. It makes me feel childlike being here, just being youthful when we play and having so much fun."
When Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller saw the opportunity to recruit Cuocco ahead of the 2026 season, the goalie's on-field production spoke for itself. A three-time CAA Goalkeeper of the Year at Drexel, Cuocco led the nation in saves (224) and save percentage (56.9%) in 2024.
But Cuocco's competitive nature extended beyond any accolade or stat sheet.
"She really just dominated at Drexel," Amonte Hiller said. "We knew she was a big-time person, player and she's really not afraid to step up in big moments. Anytime you have a player that just has that courage, that ability to really believe in themselves, that can really spread among the team. Jenika is someone that gives our whole defense confidence."
Cuocco had a brief stint in the transfer portal after her redshirt sophomore season with the Dragons. But she had unfinished business at Drexel — where she stepped into a starting role as a redshirt freshman in 2023 and never looked back — and opted to return and finish her undergraduate degree in elementary education last year.
"The people around me while I was at Drexel believed in me enough to have that faith on the field when sometimes I didn't believe in myself," Cuocco said. "Being super grateful for the opportunity and the moment and just loving the people around you is what makes the athlete experience. I don't remember the wins and losses. I just remember the memories I made."
A year later, Cuocco sought a new challenge. Compared to her high school recruiting process, Cuocco said this time around was "stress free." She knew what she wanted both on the field and in the classroom. It was just a matter of doing her due diligence on potential landing spots.
She'd heard a bevy of recruiting pitches from elite coaches around the country, but one approach stood out ahead of the rest.
"I was so lucky to go to a program like Drexel because it really is about having a family and leaving it better than when they got there," Cuocco said. "That's something I was looking for in my fifth year, while also having that high competitive play. Something that stood out when I got here was Kelly and [Scott Hiller's] mindset."
"It's a family mentality, but when you step on the field, it's business. The other programs I was looking at were worried about winning and success. But Kelly and Scotty know that when you are a team and when you are a family on the field, success just comes."
From her first day with the program, Cuocco began carving out a leadership role both within her position group and the team as a whole. She credits the coaching staff with building a welcoming culture.
Amonte Hiller said Francesca Argentieri and Cara Nugent have helped show Cuocco the program's foundations, and the graduate transfer has poured into every player in the position group.
"We're a competitive group," Cuocco said. "We all want to get better. But we use it as an opportunity to learn from each other. We love each other and support each other, and we know we're pushing each other to be better. There's something to learn from every one of us, whether it's a first-year or a fifth-year. I think that's just really special."
As she navigated the transition from the CAA to the Big Ten, speed of play and shot selection proved a pair of marked differences between the two conferences.
Cuocco and the 'Cats encountered adversity early in the year, dropping their conference opener to Ohio State in early March. The loss led to significant reflection within the group. Players asked themselves a simple question: "What do we need to do better for the person to the left and the right of us."
"We really went back to the basics, enjoying the moment," Cuocco said. "Why we started playing this sport, why we work so hard for each other, and I think that's been a pivotal point in our season."
Since that point, Cuocco and NU have seldom missed a step amid a 10-game winning streak. The goalkeeper helped the 'Cats sweep the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles for the fourth consecutive year. As such, they've locked up home field advantage for the duration of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
The No. 14 selection in the 2026 WLL Draft to the Maryland Charm, Cuocco will take her game to the professional level this summer. While she'll soon compete in the same league as her childhood idols Taylor Moreno and Caylee Waters, Cuocco's focus hasn't shifted away from her weekend matchup.
Cuocco will make her third NCAA Tournament start on Sunday against No. 22 James Madison at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
"We're just worried about the one game in front of us," Cuocco said. "Just worrying about buying ourselves so much more time to spend with each other."
The Sound Beach, N.Y., native first stepped in front of the cage as a third grader. The decision forged a path for Cuocco to ascend among the game's elite. The graduate student goalkeeper will backstop the top-seeded Northwestern defense as she enters her final NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
"There was an opening for a [goalie] spot in third grade, and I was begging my mom because I was so off running," Cuocco said. "I was just like, 'This field stuff is not for me.' I started playing it, and I fell in love with it. And thank goodness, because it's taken me here and definitely further than what I had in mind. I'm super grateful for it, and it's brought amazing people into my life."
Cuocco has racked up 161 saves on a 51.6% save percentage this season, earning Second Team USA Lacrosse All-American honors. She sits nine saves away from breaking Northwestern's single-season saves record, which Mallory Weisse set in 2017 (169).
The graduate student tends to elevate her game in crucial moments. She shattered the Wildcats' single-game record with 18 saves on a 72% save percentage as NU took down Maryland 8-7 in a Big Ten Championship overtime classic on April 26.
Jenika Cuocco appreciation post ??
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 26, 2026
?? Program single-game record 18 saves
?? 3 saves in overtime
?? .720 save percentage pic.twitter.com/uuP45PBI86
"She's our rock, for sure," redshirt junior defender Jaylen Rosga said. "She keeps us level, and it's been awesome to have her on the team."
The netminder said she's seen significant improvement in her mindset since she first stepped on campus in the fall.
"I've just become so grateful for every opportunity and moment that's been given to us," Cuocco said. "I've definitely just fallen in love with the sport again. It makes me feel childlike being here, just being youthful when we play and having so much fun."
When Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller saw the opportunity to recruit Cuocco ahead of the 2026 season, the goalie's on-field production spoke for itself. A three-time CAA Goalkeeper of the Year at Drexel, Cuocco led the nation in saves (224) and save percentage (56.9%) in 2024.
But Cuocco's competitive nature extended beyond any accolade or stat sheet.
"She really just dominated at Drexel," Amonte Hiller said. "We knew she was a big-time person, player and she's really not afraid to step up in big moments. Anytime you have a player that just has that courage, that ability to really believe in themselves, that can really spread among the team. Jenika is someone that gives our whole defense confidence."
Cuocco had a brief stint in the transfer portal after her redshirt sophomore season with the Dragons. But she had unfinished business at Drexel — where she stepped into a starting role as a redshirt freshman in 2023 and never looked back — and opted to return and finish her undergraduate degree in elementary education last year.
"The people around me while I was at Drexel believed in me enough to have that faith on the field when sometimes I didn't believe in myself," Cuocco said. "Being super grateful for the opportunity and the moment and just loving the people around you is what makes the athlete experience. I don't remember the wins and losses. I just remember the memories I made."
A year later, Cuocco sought a new challenge. Compared to her high school recruiting process, Cuocco said this time around was "stress free." She knew what she wanted both on the field and in the classroom. It was just a matter of doing her due diligence on potential landing spots.
"All praise to my defense" ???
— Northwestern Lacrosse (@NULax) April 26, 2026
18 saves for Jenika Cuocco ????? pic.twitter.com/R7ShCP80zA
She'd heard a bevy of recruiting pitches from elite coaches around the country, but one approach stood out ahead of the rest.
"I was so lucky to go to a program like Drexel because it really is about having a family and leaving it better than when they got there," Cuocco said. "That's something I was looking for in my fifth year, while also having that high competitive play. Something that stood out when I got here was Kelly and [Scott Hiller's] mindset."
"It's a family mentality, but when you step on the field, it's business. The other programs I was looking at were worried about winning and success. But Kelly and Scotty know that when you are a team and when you are a family on the field, success just comes."
From her first day with the program, Cuocco began carving out a leadership role both within her position group and the team as a whole. She credits the coaching staff with building a welcoming culture.
Amonte Hiller said Francesca Argentieri and Cara Nugent have helped show Cuocco the program's foundations, and the graduate transfer has poured into every player in the position group.
"We're a competitive group," Cuocco said. "We all want to get better. But we use it as an opportunity to learn from each other. We love each other and support each other, and we know we're pushing each other to be better. There's something to learn from every one of us, whether it's a first-year or a fifth-year. I think that's just really special."
As she navigated the transition from the CAA to the Big Ten, speed of play and shot selection proved a pair of marked differences between the two conferences.
Cuocco and the 'Cats encountered adversity early in the year, dropping their conference opener to Ohio State in early March. The loss led to significant reflection within the group. Players asked themselves a simple question: "What do we need to do better for the person to the left and the right of us."
"We really went back to the basics, enjoying the moment," Cuocco said. "Why we started playing this sport, why we work so hard for each other, and I think that's been a pivotal point in our season."
Since that point, Cuocco and NU have seldom missed a step amid a 10-game winning streak. The goalkeeper helped the 'Cats sweep the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles for the fourth consecutive year. As such, they've locked up home field advantage for the duration of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
The No. 14 selection in the 2026 WLL Draft to the Maryland Charm, Cuocco will take her game to the professional level this summer. While she'll soon compete in the same league as her childhood idols Taylor Moreno and Caylee Waters, Cuocco's focus hasn't shifted away from her weekend matchup.
Cuocco will make her third NCAA Tournament start on Sunday against No. 22 James Madison at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
"We're just worried about the one game in front of us," Cuocco said. "Just worrying about buying ourselves so much more time to spend with each other."
Players Mentioned
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