We creep closer and closer to the start of lax season.
Well, it’s starting to feel more like a free-fall.
Just two weeks ago, we previewed the newcomers to Northwestern’s roster and what they bring to a squad hungry to reach the mountaintop. Last week, we dove into the defensive makeup of the team, pointing out the important roles for the backs that surround Jenika Cuocco.
Where’d all the time go? When we reconvene in 13 days, Northwestern will be kicking off its season at Boston College.
A very quick
turnaround. But I digress.
Now, it’s time to look at Northwestern’s next position group: the returning midfielders.
Taylor Lapointe | Jr.
Lapointe returns as the focal point of the midfield after getting some crucial minutes as a substitute a season ago. As a sophomore, the Florida native was trusted to provide support when the ‘Cats needed it in big games. She logged five goals and an assist in NU’s run in the NCAA Tournament.
What made Lapointe so valuable off the bench a season ago was her two-way ability: she was a viable option for Northwestern to find on the attack, helping take the defensive pressure of Madison Taylor, while causing chaos on the defensive end, helping Mary Carroll and Jane Hansen stifle offenses. With the ladder of those two now gone, as well as Emerson Bohlig and Sam Smith also departed from the team, it’s probable that Lapointe will take one of those starting jobs for this upcoming season, playing alongside graduate student transfer Annabel Child and Jaylen Rosga, who we’ll discuss next.
Jaylen Rosga | R-Jr.
Rosga returns to the lineup as a starter this season, getting the nod in 16 of her 22 appearances a season ago. She ended 2025 picking up 27 ground balls and causing 18 turnovers as a defensive-minded midfielder.
Defense will be of the essence for Northwestern, considering its losses from a season ago, which is what makes Rosga invaluable to NU. She’s a very overlooked and underrated disruptor who’ll be extremely important in providing the aforementioned Carroll some help on the defensive end.
Rosga’s main focus this upcoming season will be to spark the fastbreak for NU: flipping the possession arrow in the middle of the field to give its revamped attack the number’s advantage.
Madison Smith | R-So.
Madi Smith was well on her way to establishing herself as a force in the Big Ten before a February injury suffered against Colorado brought her season to a premature end.
Smith will look to pick up right where she left off last year, as before that injury, she was a valuable part of Northwestern’s defensive front. One of her best games of the season came against then top-ranked Boston College, where she picked up three ground balls and caused a turnover.
Much like her sister, Sam, Smith displayed complete and utter dominance on the draw in her starts against Canisius and Niagara. She finished both contests with seven and eight, respectively.
The one question for Smith is whether or not coach Kelly Amonte Hiller will monitor her minutes as she returns from injury. If so, the next player on this roster will surely maintain the high level of playing time she saw in her first collegiate season.
Hannah Rudolph | So.
As one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation, it was inevitable that Rudolph would get her piece of the pie in Evanston when it came to minutes. She played an expansive role off the bench, appearing in 20 games over the course of the season.
Rudolph’s biggest strength was her scoring ability — no surprise there — being active near the arc and opening up opportunities for herself and others. With a revamped defense, it’ll be no surprise if she sees an uptick in playing time whenever Hiller feels confident enough to push the pace offensively.
Alex Blake | Jr.
Although she wasn’t very active on the field in 2025, Blake adds to the depth of the roster greatly. She stepped up in the national championship for the ‘Cats, causing a turnover and winning a ground ball against North Carolina.
Blake will most likely see the field as a substitute, rotating in at various points in contests to help facilitate the offense and anchor the defense. She’ll look to develop her versatility in 2026.
Others to watch for
Lauren Archer made 18 appearances in her sophomore season, growing more important to the ‘Cats down the stretch with her finding her way into every postseason game for Northwestern. She’d end with six goals and two assists, showing that she can also help facilitate the offense and move without the ball. One can say the same about Noel Cumberland as well, with her final stat line being four goals and three assists at season’s end.
Claire Marosi didn’t nearly see as much playing time, but did show great ball control, getting to her spots to rip off her best shots whenever she’d get opportunities to.
Annabelle Mahoney is quite the wild card.
Despite being a 2024 All-American, Mahoney didn’t see any action last season, sitting out with an injury. Her senior year at The Pingry School proved that she excelled in all facets of the game, especially on the draw, but she never got the chance to prove it in year one with the ‘Cats. However, year two will more than likely bring better luck for the New Jersey midfielder, who is the younger sister of former NU starting defender Carleigh Mahoney.
NU is losing a ton at the midfielder position, but what remains is quite solid, to say the least.
