No. 2 Northwestern lacrosse is not satisfied with second place.
The ‘Cats, who fell to North Carolina 13-8 in the 2025 national championship, were ranked second in USA Lacrosse’s preseason poll behind the Tar Heels.
Northwestern reaffirmed its commitment in returning to the mountaintop during a media availability on Monday afternoon ahead of its highly anticipated season opener against No. 3 Boston College on Friday, Feb. 6.
Head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, senior defender Jaylen Rosga, Tewaaraton finalist
Madison Taylor, and Syracuse transfer Olivia Adamson were all present at Monday afternoon’s presser.
Adamson, who earned IWLCA third-team All-American honors while leading the Orange in goals during a Final Four run in 2024, is just one of many Wildcats seeking to get their taste of national championship glory in 2026.
“Northwestern girls compete so hard. They’re so gritty, and they’re the toughest opponents,” said Adamson, who played the ‘Cats four times during her four years at Syracuse, including in the 2024 NCAA quarterfinals.
The St. Petersburg native hit the nail on the head. Northwestern has won over the years by playing at 100 miles per hour.
No slowing the pace. No catching your breath.
NU wins with pure determination. It’s the reason why the ‘Cats erased a 6-2 deficit in 20 minutes Maryland in last year’s Big Ten Championship, and the reason they came back from 11-6 down to upend No. 3 Boston College in the Final Four.
According to head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, this year’s group, although different, exudes the same winning mentality last year’s team did — “loving the hard fight,” as she put it throughout the 2025 campaign.
“I think they have embraced [that identity] for sure,” said Hiller. “I think that will evolve over the course of the season when we’re tested in different ways.”
It’s safe to say that ‘Cats will continue to live and die with the mentality of ‘loving the hard fight,’ and that means transfers like Adamson contributing to that Northwestern identity.
“I would characterize this group as a new energy,” said senior defender Jaylen Rosga, one of Northwestern’s four primary returning starters from last year’s team. “We’ve got a lot of heart this year, so I’m really excited.”
For Northwestern, the tests will come early.
This week, the ‘Cats will jet off Chestnut Hill to square off against Boston College once again in a high-caliber No. 2 vs. No. 3 season opener.
Leading the ‘Cats into battle for one final time this season is Madison Taylor, who had one of the sport’s greatest scoring seasons ever in 2025. Despite her resume (two time Tewaaraton finalist, NCAA record holder for goals in a single-season, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera), she remains unafraid to dive into the trenches.
“I’m willing to do anything for the team to win,” said Taylor. One peek at the box score from last year’s Final Four against the Eagles validates her statement.
With NU’s back against the wall trailing 11-6 in the third quarter, Taylor stepped up to lead the legendary five goal comeback in the fourth, scoring two and assisting on Sam Smith’s game winner to help snatch victory from the jaws of sure defeat. Dive deeper into the stats, and you’ll find that she was also active away from the arc on that night: a caused turnover, two ground ball pickups, and six draw controls — a season high.
“Any day you have Maddy Taylor on your team is a good day,” said Hiller. “She is an elite competitor.. She pours her heart and soul into this game…that’s what it takes to be great. You have to be willing to compete all the time.”
The national consensus is the same: Taylor’s great, Northwestern’s great, but they need to topple No. 1 North Carolina in order to be considered the best. The Tar Heels bested Northwestern twice in 2025, including in the national championship.
That’s why NU was ranked No. 2 in the preseason polls. The same reason why Madison Taylor was ranked No. 2 in Inside Lacrosse’s Top 50 Player Rankings, behind 2025 Tewaaraton Winner Chloe Humphrey
How does NU right its wrongs and reestablish itself as the top program in the nation? Jaylen Rosga’s got a pretty simple answer: “we just have to be Northwestern Lacrosse.”
