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Northwestern Lacrosse: Top-seeded Northwestern captured the NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse national championship with a 14-11 victory over second-seeded North Carolina.
Freshman Gabriella McCollester delivered a standout performance, scoring a career-high four goals to help lead Northwestern to the title.
Taylor Lapointe and Aditi Foster each recorded hat tricks as the Wildcats’ offense proved decisive in the championship matchup.
Madison Taylor also played a key role, finishing with seven points to power Northwestern’s attack.
The win secured the national championship for Northwestern after a hard-fought contest against North Carolina in the season’s final game.
Northwestern received a major boost from freshman Gabriella McCollester after senior attacker Lucy Munro exited in the first quarter with an injury.
McCollester rose to the occasion and scored all four of her goals in the second half, helping the Wildcats maintain control of the national championship game.
Madison Taylor, a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, awarded annually to the nation’s top women’s lacrosse player, delivered another standout performance.
Taylor finished with six assists and added the final goal of the game for Northwestern.
The victory secured the Wildcats’ ninth NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse national championship.
Northwestern also made history by becoming the first team since 1984 to win a national title on its home field.
The Wildcats set the tone early in the contest.
Taylor Lapointe scored the game’s first two goals within the opening two minutes. Aditi Foster quickly added another score to extend Northwestern’s advantage.
The fast start forced North Carolina to call a timeout just five minutes into the championship matchup.
The championship game was deadlocked at 6-6 heading into halftime after a tightly contested opening half.
North Carolina seized momentum after the break and used a 3-1 run to claim its first lead of the afternoon.
Chloe Humphrey continued her remarkable season during the surge.
The 2025 Tewaaraton Award winner scored her 109th goal of the year, matching the NCAA Division I single-season record.
Northwestern responded when it mattered most.
Gabriella McCollester completed her hat trick early in the fourth quarter, leveling the score at 11-11 and shifting momentum back to the Wildcats.
Northwestern then took full control of the contest.
The Wildcats scored five consecutive goals in the final period to pull away from the Tar Heels.
Their defense was equally dominant, holding North Carolina scoreless over the final 15 minutes of the game.
The decisive fourth-quarter performance secured the national championship and capped a dramatic comeback victory for Northwestern.
Northwestern received a strong performance from goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco in the national championship game.
Cuocco recorded 11 saves while facing 22 shots, helping the Wildcats protect their lead and secure the title.
The victory also added another milestone to the legacy of head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller.
Amonte Hiller has led Northwestern since 2005, when she helped revive the program and establish it as one of the nation's premier women's lacrosse teams.
With the championship win, she captured her ninth national title as head coach.
The achievement made Amonte Hiller the most successful coach in NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse championship game history.
Her leadership has been a driving force behind Northwestern’s sustained dominance on the national stage.
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