Northwestern lacrosse is two days away from kicking off the NCAA tournament on its home turf in Evanston. Inside NU’s writers offered their predictions for the Wildcats’ chances as they seek their first national championship since 2023.
Sai Trivedi
Floor: Final Four.
Ceiling: NCAA Championship.
Most Valuable Player: Jenika Cuocco
This season has been somewhat of a roller coaster for Northwestern lacrosse, but there are two traits this squad clearly possesses – built resilience and elevated play when the stakes
are highest. NU’s deflating early-season home loss to Colorado was potentially a blessing in disguise. It lit a fire under this squad and catapulted them into becoming the first Division I team to beat two IWLCA No. 1-ranked teams in a single season since Florida in 2012. Ironically, both the Buffaloes and the Gators are the two potential opponents the ‘Cats may encounter in the quarterfinals, and the strength of those squads shouldn’t be dismissed. But regardless, the ‘Cats enter this tournament uniquely equipped to handle the nation’s best, and appear poised to bring all the lessons gained from those contests to bear. That’s why I believe making the Final Four should be the expectation, while being crowned NCAA champions is the obvious – and realistic – goal.
There may be some recency bias behind my MVP pick, given that Jenika Cuocco is fresh off the game of her life with 18 saves in the Big Ten title win against Maryland. But that performance proved Cuocco’s work in-goal could be the biggest X-factor for Northwestern, especially as it prepares to square up against powerhouse offenses like UNC and Johns Hopkins. Cuocco was arguably the biggest reason NU was crowned the Big Ten Champion. I expect her to be the biggest key to NU’s NCAA title as well.
Anya Weerapana
Floor: Final Four
Ceiling: NCAA Championship
Most Valuable Player: Jenika Cuocco
I feel like I’m betraying Northwestern by saying the quarterfinals are its floor, but I think there is an element of truth to this. There has been such parity in the NCAA this season that has caused a lot of upsets, and in a tournament where you cannot afford to slip up even once, I can’t say it’s out of the picture for Northwestern to accidentally fall (especially given the fact that its past few games have not been its best performances). That being said, the ‘Cats can also win the NCAA Championship if they keep pushing through bad quarters as they have consistently this season. We’ve seen them consistently pull off winning results against top programs — the North Carolina game is the example that everyone will point to, though I will say that I’m not sure if Northwestern can replicate that another time around. The added bonus of being at home this entire tournament will certainly help the team.
I’m picking Jenika Cuocco as MVP just because I think that her role is the most clear-cut on the team right now. As tough as it sounds, Cuocco’s performance will be make-or-break in the greater scheme of things in the tournament. Staving off opposing pressure is key for a Northwestern side that has somehow always managed to pull it together on the goalscoring side of things. If Cuocco can pull off an above-average performance and save more than she’s expected to (which sounds really simple and shallow, I know), I think she’ll easily be taking home this prize.
Yanyan Li
Floor: NCAA Quarterfinals.
Ceiling: NCAA Championship.
Most Valuable Player: Aditi Foster
Since it defeated UNC and Hopkins in one week, part of me has been convinced that Northwestern is destined to win it all. But realistically speaking, this is a team with a low floor and high ceiling. In one season, it has beaten numerous top teams but suffered some of its worst losses in years, and almost every game has been close. Northwestern absolutely has what it takes to win it all, but a few bad mistakes combined with a few fouls and dangerous follow-through calls could have this team spiraling out of the early rounds. And in the quarterfinals, the ‘Cats could face either a dangerous Colorado team that beat them at home early and is coming off a massive Big 12 title win over Florida, or a Gators squad that made the Final Four the last two seasons.
I’m gonna go with Aditi Foster as my MVP, and it’s because she’s a player who has proven she can take risks in her shot creation. I’ve been a bit concerned about Northwestern’s offense in the last few games, and as good as Jenika Cuocco is, that stagnancy won’t cut it in the NCAA Tournament against teams like UNC, who have piled goals on teams all season. Though Madison Taylor runs the offense, Foster is someone who has pulled NU through some tough situations recently (see: the Big Ten Tournament semifinals vs. Michigan) and was clutch in the Final Four last year. I trust Foster to be the one to step up this time around.
Calvin Kaplan
Floor: Final Four
Ceiling: NCAA Championship
Most Valuable Player: Madison Taylor
After an up-and-down season, the battle-tested Wildcats are right where they want to be entering the NCAA Tournament. There are no guarantees in May, but the ‘Cats do appear to have a relatively clear path to the Final Four, with No. 4 seed Johns Hopkins — whom they defeated 16-12 in March — being the highest-ranked opponent standing in their way. Northwestern will likely be able to handle either JMU or Notre Dame on Sunday, and although high-upside Florida or Colorado squads would make for tough quarterfinal matchups, the Wildcats have repeatedly shown they can elevate their play in do-or-die situations. I expect Kelly Amonte Hiller’s tournament experience to bring NU far, and although Jenika Cuocco has been a stalwart between the pipes, the goal-scoring prowess of Madison Taylor should be the biggest key against resilient offenses that put up a high volume of shots.
Charlie Jacobs
Floor: Final Four
Ceiling: NCAA Champions
Most Valuable Player: Maddie Taylor
Northwestern lacrosse has made such a turnaround this season. The ‘Cats struggled a bit early on, especially when playing at home inside Ryan Fieldhouse. The Final Four this year will be played outside at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, so Northwestern will be playing on its home turf the entire tournament. The Wildcats have played countless close games this season, but they have proven they can beat the best. To be the best, you need to do that, and the momentum this team has is unlike any other school in the country. Maddy Taylor is my pick for MVP as it’s hard not to put her down, considering she’s the cog that makes this team function.
Matt Campbell
Floor: NCAA Runner-Up
Ceiling: NCAA Champions
Most Valuable Player: Maddie Taylor
This just seems too perfect a storm for it to end any other way. For the first time since 2017, the Final Four comes to a college venue, and it’s the best Midwest program of all time that gets the distinction of being the host for it.
In Madison Taylor’s illustrious career, a national title as the leader of a Northwestern roster is basically the only thing missing from her resúme (barring the Tewaaraton, of course, which will be hers in theory if NU runs the table and wins the national championship). Having the opportunity to do it on the lake is a once-in-a-lifetime chance that will probably never be seen again for a team like this, and I can’t imagine a world in which Taylor doesn’t show up in the biggest month of her career.
Pierson Strandquist
Floor: Final Four
Ceiling: NCAA Champions
Most Valuable Player: Jennika Cuocco
Twenty-five straight wins at Martin Stadium. Three losses this season, all indoors. Guess what? The NCAA tournament is outdoors and at Martin Stadium. Simple math, right? Northwestern just got handed the No. 1 overall seed and a path that never leaves Evanston. That Colorado loss from the start of the season? That was indoors. The weird senior day loss to Ohio State? That was indoors. Since then, they’ve won 10 straight. The Maryland wins? Outdoors. The UNC win? Outdoors. This team is undefeated outdoors, both home AND away. It’s earned its real home field for a reason. The lake air, the open sky, the turf that hasn’t seen a loss since 2019. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Jenika Cuocco has been good everywhere, but she’s been unbeatable outside. Huge OT saves against UNC and UMD in the biggest moments prove that. Give me the ‘Cats to finally break the runner-up streak and win it all on their own lakefront. Final Four is the expectation. A trophy staying in Evanston is the only ending that makes sense, likely in a rematch against those former No. 1s in Maryland and North Carolina who are looking for revenge.
