No. 2 Northwestern opens season with rematch against Boston College

The Wildcats and Eagles face off in a highly anticipated matchup after meeting in last year's NCAA Tournament semifinals.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As then-graduate student goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer corralled the game-winning save in the NCAA Tournament semifinals last May, she sealed an instant classic between Northwestern and Boston College, where the Wildcats came back from a five-goal deficit. When No. 2 NU and the No. 3-ranked Eagles face off Friday night, another chapter of this now-storied rivalry will be stamped into history.

Why it matters

Five of the last six matchups between these two squads have been decided by four goals or less, the sole outlier being the 'Cats' dominant 18-6 national title win in 2023. Both teams have lost key talents from last season, setting the stage for another closely contested battle between two of the top programs in women's lacrosse.

The details

This is the fifth straight season with a regular season game between these squads, with a 2-2 split in the four prior games. The 'Cats and the Eagles have faced off nine times in their histories, starting in 2013, with NU leading the series 5-4. The foes have also matched up in three straight Final Fours, where they traded national championship wins in 2023 and 2024 before the 'Cats claimed the semifinal win last year.

  • The 'Cats and the Eagles face off on Friday, February 6, 2026.
  • The 2026 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Final Four will begin 105 days after Friday's season opener.

The players

Delaney Sweitzer

A then-graduate student goalkeeper who made the game-winning save for Northwestern in last year's NCAA Tournament semifinal against Boston College.

Kelly Amonte Hiller

The head coach of the Northwestern women's lacrosse team, who emphasized learning from past matchups against Boston College.

Rachel Clark

A Boston College attacker who graduated after the 2025 season, leaving the Eagles to replace her top-scoring production of 106 goals.

Madison Taylor

A senior attacker for Northwestern who is excited for the challenge of facing tough opponents like Boston College, defending champion North Carolina, and others this season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have a new team this year, Boston College has a new team this year, but we're all trying to learn from our experiences against them last year.”

— Kelly Amonte Hiller, Head Coach (dailynorthwestern.com)

“I think it will be good for us to compete with the best of the best. It's a way to make you better as a person, as a player and as a team, so I'm super excited for that.”

— Madison Taylor, Senior Attacker (dailynorthwestern.com)

“It's an awesome opportunity, and I think it's an awesome opportunity for our sport as well. It definitely pushed us every day, especially for the younger generation of girls that want to play lacrosse here.”

— Madison Taylor, Senior Attacker (dailynorthwestern.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.