27 days. That’s the amount of time left until Northwestern lacrosse takes the field for its 2026 revenge tour.
After an agonizing defeat at the hands of top-ranked North Carolina in the national championship
game, the ‘Cats enter the spring seeking redemption — for multiple reasons. Not only did they miss out on a national title, but the Wildcats’ leading scorer, Madison Taylor, ended the year without the Tewaaraton Award despite having one of the most historic scoring seasons in NCAA history.
One can only imagine how hungry Northwestern will be in 2026 to return to the mountaintop.
With that journey ahead, head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has brought in young reinforcement to bolster her veteran squad. With key departures such as Sammy White and Jane Hansen, NU turns its gears to acquiring new talent, including four of the top transfer portal additions in the country. However, it also has nine new prospects settled into Evanston and set to begin their careers in purple.
Three attackers, three midfielders, two defenders and a goalie. Let’s break down each first-year.
Kate Ratanaproeksa | Attack | Portland, Ore.
A USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American, Ratanaproeska has one of the brightest upsides of any attacker in the nation. Sports Illustrated noted the Oregon native as one of 40 seniors in the state to watch in 2025 and that bet paid dividends, as Ratanaproeska subsequently went on to win the 2025 OGLA All-State Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year award.
Ratanaproeksa’s athleticism is off the charts — not only was she one of the best lacrosse players in the nation, but she also captained Grant women’s soccer to back-to-back state championship games, winning it in 2023.
Reese Hansen | Midfielder | Cohasset, Mass.
The younger sister of Northwestern lacrosse alumni Elle and Jane Hansen, Reese Hansen was a two-time high school captain and a Player of the Year finalist for The Patriot Ledger in her senior season. The youngest Hansen racked in 53 goals and 29 assists to lead Cohasset to the state final, and Cohasset head coach Kara Connerty described her as “a complete team player.”
Hansen was part of a dominant Mass Elite club team throughout her high school years. She was also captain of the Cohasset basketball and field hockey teams.
Mckenzie Brown | Defender | Timonium, Md.
Inside Lacrosse’s No. 9 recruit in the nation joins a youthful defense, including sophomore and 2025 starter Mary Carroll.
The Maryland native was a USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American in 2025 and a USA Lacrosse U18 Select athlete. She played her 2025 club season with the Sky Walkers, who finished with a 25-13 record.
Mackenzie Matter | Defender | Summit, NJ
Matter will go from one program with a championship pedigree to another, as she contributed to four Summit state titles throughout her high school career. She was named an All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine in 2024 and totaled 26 ground balls, 4 draw controls, and 22 forced turnovers in her career.
Kyle Finnell | Attack | Garden City, NY
Finnell was selected to participate in the Wave 3 2025 New Balance All-American Game this past summer after a senior season where she was named an All-American after leading Garden City to the Class B state championship game.
In 2024, Finnell was Newsday’s Nassau Player of the Year, totaling 53 goals and 19 assists.
Sienna Connolly | Midfielder | South Side, NY
Another All-American selection from USA Lacrosse Magazine, Connolly’s high school career may be one of the most storied in the Long Island area. She led South Side to its first county championship in program history, helping her squad to enter the nation’s top 25, getting slotted at No. 23 by USA Lacrosse Magazine on May 29 of last year.
The season prior, Connolly was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island Girls Lacrosse Second Team as a junior.
Gabriella McCollester | Attack | Boulder, Colo.
McCollester was an integral part of the Boulder High School attack, totaling 144 goals throughout her career. During her junior campaign, she averaged 3.2 goals per game on .594 shooting.
McCollester was one of three 2024 Continental Cup MVPs, representing the Denver Pride Lax club at the competition and throughout her high school years.
Liz Carlson | Goalkeeper | Milford, Conn.
Carlson flipped to Northwestern after originally committing to Yale back in 2023. The switch came last October.
When speaking to Mike Zhe of the New England Lacrosse Journal, she described herself as a “risk-taker,” quoting the all too familiar cliché saying “risk equals reward.”
Well, in 2025, that risk paid dividends for Carlson, as she earned herself a spot on the All-NEPSAC Team at the season’s end. Now, she turns her attention to helping the ‘Cats fill the depth at the goalie position alongside Drexel transfer Jenika Cuocco.
Rowie Scobie | Midfielder | Mill Valley, Calif.
Another USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American, Scobie led Tamalpais High School to regional and sectional titles for the first time in school history. She also has experience on the international stage, representing Scotland at the 2024 U20 Lacrosse World Championships. Following a five-goal, one-assist performance against Korea at the tournament, she was named Player of the Match.
