James Madison University will play against top-seeded Northwestern in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship on May 10. The match is set for 2 p.m. Eastern Time at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin’s Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.
The game follows James Madison’s victory over Notre Dame in the opening round of the tournament. This meeting marks the fifth time James Madison and Northwestern have played each other, with Northwestern leading the series three games to one. It is also their first encounter since 1989 and their first ever matchup in an NCAA Championship setting.
James Madison currently ranks fifteenth in the NCAA Division I RPI after winning the American Women’s Lacrosse Championship, which ties its highest position this season. Northwestern holds the top spot after securing its fourth consecutive Big Ten Tournament title and third number one overall seed in four seasons.
If James Madison wins, it will advance to the third round of the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2023 and extend its current win streak to nine games. The team enters this match with an eight-game win streak, including a recent narrow victory over sixteenth-ranked Notre Dame.
Jordan Peterson leads James Madison with 44 goals this season, while Payton Root has contributed a team-high 59 assists and a total of 90 points. Harlowe Healey has been strong on draws with 157 so far this year, reaching double digits six times. Defensively, Olivia Rongo holds a school single-season record for caused turnovers at 58 and leads ground balls with 55.
For Northwestern, Tewaaraton finalist Madison Taylor tops her team in goals (80), assists (31), and points (111). Aditi Foster follows as second-best scorer with 43 goals and totals 55 points. Jaylen Rosga leads defensively with twenty caused turnovers and twenty-three ground balls, while goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco has made one hundred sixty-one saves.
