15 days remain until the Lake Show make their arrival in 2026.
And it’ll be a suspenseful 15 days.
After falling narrowly short in a Hollywood-esque adventure to a national title, Northwestern women’s lacrosse finds itself in an extremely intriguing position. Kelly Amonte Hiller has done an overhaul in the transfer portal to shore up the attack in what seems to be a “win-now” situation for NU.
Advertisement
With four graduate students joining the program, it seems as though the ‘Cats are going for broke this coming season: national championship or bust.
Key word: national. Not just a Big Ten title, or even a Final Four appearance.
Northwestern has positioned itself to take it all, and the ’Cats Express will surely be a fun ride to jump on when it takes off from Chestnut Hill in just two weeks time.
Any subway system has its major stops along the way. Each train that a passenger boards has that one robust, active, always busy stop in the middle of the city.
What makes the ‘Cats Express so different this year is that it has three major stops along its course — stops where passengers can get a glance at where the program’s future track lines may run, and, more importantly, where this team’s final destination might be.
Advertisement
And like any subway system with those major stops, these three jump off the map to anyone who boards the train.
Stops so recognizable that one can spot them with their eyes shut.
1. Does Northwestern has a new ghost of Christmas past?
Stop number one to mark on your maps is Chapel Hill, NC.
Just a few months ago, the lacrosse world had been raving about Boston College having Northwestern’s number. After defeating the ‘Cats in the 2024 national championship, and dominating them in Evanston in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 season opener last year, the Eagles seemed to have cemented themselves as superior to their midwestern foes.
Advertisement
That seemed to ring true through three quarter of their Final Four matchup against NU, when BC led by five with only fifteen minutes to go.
We all know how that story ended, with the Cardiac ‘Cats snatching triumph from the deepest depths of treachery in an all-time finish.
However, NU needed one more comeback effort in the title game in order to reach the mountaintop again.
It didn’t happen.
And who denied them that storybook ending?
North Carolina.
Carolina blue haunted the ‘Cats all spring last year. Not only did the Tar Heels delegate NU to the position of national runner-up for the second straight season, but they were the only program left unconquered by Northwestern in 2025.
Advertisement
And as if that wasn’t enough, the Tewaaraton award ended up going home with UNC, despite Madison Taylor having one of the greatest offensive seasons in the history of the sport. Instead, Chloe Humphrey walked the stage.
Inside Lacrosse projects UNC at No. 1 and Northwestern at No. 2, and looking back at the history between the two teams, that projection seems quite accurate. March 25, however, serves the ‘Cats a golden opportunity to begin to rectify last year’s shortcomings with a win over their biggest adversaries amidst the ever-intimidating, always ruthless Tar Heel Nation.
Simply put, NU’s quest for its second national title of the decade will need to find a pathway around the roadblock that North Carolina presents.
2. Who’s the heir to the throne?
What a surprise. Stop two: Ryan Fieldhouse, where the next leader of the program will make herself felt in 2026.
Advertisement
With Madison Taylor and Lucy Munro heading into their final years of Northwestern lacrosse, there’s a gargantuan void that’s soon to be left for coach Hiller to fill — a hole that’s threatening to jeopardize the ‘Cats esteemed position as one of the best teams in the nation.
Aditi Foster seems to be the frontrunner to take the reins for NU in the near future. Her 12 goals and five assists don’t appear enticing at first glance, but the Philadelphia native was stellar in moments where Northwestern needed a spark.
Foster provided a goal to give the ‘Cats some much-needed cushion in their victory over No. 6 Syracuse, netted the game winner in the finals of the Big Ten Tournament vs. Maryland, and pulled NU within two in their comeback win against BC in Gillette Stadium.
Despite the influx of transfers to shore up the attack, namely Madison Epke and Olivia Adamson, it’s probable that Foster will get her share of starts in the lineup this season.
Advertisement
Another important piece to keep an eye on will be Taylor Lapointe, who showed her versatility against Colorado and USC last season, displaying the ability to score, find teammates at the arc, and cause chaos defensively.
Another two attackers that’ll be in the mix are Claire Marosi and Claire Ratke, whose appearances have been scarce since arriving in Evanston, but will pick up steam as time progresses.
Despite the losses to the program, pending season’s end, Northwestern remains with national contender potential with the talent on their roster. What’s of most importance to the ‘Cats is a player to step up and spearhead the program for the years ahead.
3. Maddy T’s last chance to lead the ‘Cats to the promised land
Stop three to highlight is one that NU lax is starting to build into its own “Times Square” of sorts: a robust location that’s guaranteed to draw a crowd.
Advertisement
Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The site for the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Final Four this year, which could provide a thrilling end to one of the most storied college careers ever.
Maddy Taylor has nearly done it all at Northwestern. She’s a national champion, an All-American, a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, a Tewaaraton finalist and the NCAA record holder for most goals in a season.
The one blemish on her resume is as such: she’s never led the ‘Cats to the mountaintop.
Let me explain.
When Taylor and company won it all in 2023, that company included a “who’s who” of the NCAA’s best: Izzy Scane, Erin Coykendall and Hailey Rhatigan, just to name a few. Recognizing this is not to be confused as an attempt to discredit her role as a first-year: Taylor tied for the game-high in goals in that national title game against BC, which is only a snapshot of what she did. But it’s hard to deny that the support around her was astounding, and can be categorized as one of the deepest rosters of the past decade.
Advertisement
Fast forward to 2025, when that support is long gone and Taylor is now the focal point of the offense, dominating ranked opponent after ranked opponent and having her way offensively.
Until she reached the national championship.
Taylor was completely erased from the Northwestern attack, held scoreless on a measly three shot attempts. When the lights were turned up to maximum brightness, the nation’s top scorer was nowhere to be found.
Her senior year is one that can be characterized as her redemption arc: her opportunity to trek back to the biggest game of the year, only this time, to exhibit her dominance when it matters most.
Advertisement
One final chance to lead. One final chance to triumph. One final chance to cement her legacy as a Northwestern great, while doing so on the legendary lakefront, which has seen countless moments etched in the lore of Wildcat athletics forever.
With a national championship, Taylor can join that sacred lore as one of the best to ever touch a lacrosse stick.
#biggest #storylines #Northwestern #lacrosse