Northwestern Claims 2026 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament Title

View 2026 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament Central

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Despite watching a four-goal cushion evaporate in the final 10 minutes of regulation, the top seeded Northwestern Wildcats claimed their fourth consecutive Big Ten Tournament win with an 8-7 overtime victory over No. 2 seed Maryland on Sunday afternoon at the U-M Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. 

The win marks Northwestern’s sixth tournament crown since 2019 and secures the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.

Northwestern goaltender Jenika Cuocco was named Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player after matching a career high with 18 saves, including three in the overtime period alone. 

Maryland scored the game’s opening goal just over two minutes into the game on the first of two Kori Edmondson goals. Northwestern. The Wildcats responded four minutes later, as the first of Aditi Foster’s two goals sparked a run of five unanswered Northwestern markers. 

Northwestern built its lead on the strength of a dominant defensive performance, holding Maryland scoreless for nearly 33 minutes spanning the first, second, and third quarters. 

Maryland goals by Maisy Clevenger and Kristen Shanahan sandwiched Foster’s second goal, pulling the Terrapins to within 6-3 with 15 minutes to play.

The Terrapins found their offensive rhythm in the fourth, as four different players marked the score sheet, including Keeley Block’s goal with 1:46 to play leveling the score at 7-7. 

Maryland had chances to score the game-winner in the extra period, but Cuocco was up to the task, recording three of her 18 saves, including a pair of point-blank stops with less than 75 seconds left in overtime.

Cuocco’s saves gave the Wildcats one final chance before the end of the period and Northwestern made the most of the chance, as Mckenzie Brown found Annabel Child for the championship winning goal in the final second of the overtime period.

Edmondson led the Terrapins with two goals, while Kristen Shanahan added a goal and three assists. Kayla Gilmore collected a game-high five draw controls, while goaltender JJ Suriano notching 12 saves.

Child finished the game with her first career hat trick, while Madison Taylor paired a goal, an assist, four draw controls, three ground balls, and two caused turnovers.

2026 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse All-Tournament Team
Lacey Downey, Johns Hopkins
Reagan O’Brien, Johns Hopkins
Emma Bradbury, Michigan
Taylor Cullen, Michigan
Kori Edmondson, Maryland
Maddy Sterling, Maryland
JJ Suriano, Maryland
Annabel Child, Northwestern
Noel Cumberland, Northwestern
Jenika Cuocco, Northwestern
Aditi Foster, Northwestern
Madison Taylor, Northwestern 

2026 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Jenika Cuocco, Northwestern