Northwestern’s draw trio clicks again in late May

Northwestern’s draw – With Madison Smith, Madison Taylor and Maddie Epke combining for 19 draw controls in Friday’s semifinal, Northwestern enters the national title game against North Carolina with a possession advantage that has been stark across its NCAA Tournament run.

EVANSTON, Ill. — For the draw team at Northwestern, late May isn’t a passing moment. It’s the part of the season where small edges turn into momentum, and momentum turns into a championship ticket.

As No. 1 Northwestern prepares to take on No. 2 North Carolina in Sunday’s national title game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. the Wildcats’ draw circle has been pushing the right buttons when it matters most. In three NCAA Tournament games, Northwestern has outdrawn its opponents 55-25.

Friday’s semifinal made the message unmistakable. The circle trio of Madison Smith, Madison Taylor and Maddie Epke pulled down a combined 19 draw controls to help NU earn a 16-11 win over Johns Hopkins.

“They’re a pretty unbelievable squad, and I have a ton of fun working with them,” Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said.

The season’s late surge carries extra weight because the draw room wasn’t guaranteed continuity. This past offseason. Amonte Hiller had to account for the graduation of a three-year starter on the draw and two-way midfielder in Sam Smith. The Mill Valley. Calif. native had pulled down a program record 185 draw controls in 2025 and had improved steadily with each passing season.

Sam Smith also moved on—taking her talents to the WLL’s New York Charging—while her younger sister returned from a season-ending lower-body injury. With that lineup shifting, Amonte Hiller leaned on proven draw power.

She brought in the nation’s active leader in career draw controls, while also adding Epke, the former James Madison star who had shattered possession records on the college and international stage.

Through fall ball, Epke, Syracuse transfer Olivia Adamson and Madison Smith each took reps on the draw. Amonte Hiller has framed that work as an everyday requirement, not a secret plan.

“Any time you can push the people you have in place is such a huge thing. ” Amonte Hiller said in February. “Their ability to push each other — sometimes it can get to them a little bit because they’re going against the best every day — they just have to realize their competition in the practice setting is truly elite. We need to continue to push each other every day.”.

That push is showing up in numbers. Smith solidified an immediate role on defense and the draw. She has pulled down a team-high 122 draw controls while adding 24 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls. She’s also made history: Smith is the first player in program history to post at least 100 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers in a single season.

Epke’s season, meanwhile, started with growing pains as she adapted to a new school, conference and system. The postseason has been the answer. She has emerged as a dynamic attacker who has played both on the circle and as a primary draw taker.

In 21 games, Epke has scored 40 points and accumulated 81 draw controls. Beyond the stat sheet, her effort on the ride has forced opposing defenses into precarious positions on clear attempts.

“I get to work with her every single day and have a lot of conversations with her,” Amonte Hiller said. “Early on in the season, it was a little bit of a hard transition. Just to see how comfortable she is now. how she carries us and how big time she is. she just loves this game. She wants to be a coach, and [she’s] just really fun to work with.”.

Even the details of Epke’s NCAA Tournament impact read like a pattern. She is the first player in program history to tally at least five points and six draw controls in multiple NCAA Tournament games. Epke followed up a five-point. nine-draw control display against her former team on May 10 with six points and six draw controls against Johns Hopkins on Friday.

Northwestern has relied on more than just one standout. Lauren Gilbert, Danielle Spencer, Taylor and Fredericks are the only other Wildcats with one such game in postseason play.

For Epke, the comfort is the point. “It just gets more and more comfortable as you go on with this team,” she said. “This group is so talented. There’s so many people that you don’t even see getting these goals that are doing so much for us in practice to make us better. That’s why you’re seeing some of us play our best lacrosse right now.”.

There’s also a sense of how the draw operation has evolved. In the first three years of Northwestern’s four consecutive national title appearances, the Wildcats had a true No. 1 draw taker and a reliable second option to change the pace in the circle. Serafina DeMunno was that complementary piece in 2023. and the younger Smith sister had that role under Sam the following season. as well as early in 2025. Last year, Amonte Hiller could also call upon Niki Miles to step up on draws. She also has the constant presence of Taylor. the only player in NCAA history with 450+ points and 250+ draw controls. on the circle.

Now, with Northwestern turning the corner for a national title rematch with the Tar Heels, the draw storyline has another subplot. North Carolina has dealt with draw specialist Sarah Gresham’s limited status in Friday’s semifinal due to injury.

But Northwestern’s view is simpler, grounded in how the circle has performed. The ‘Cats boast a dual-faceted draw operation capable of commanding possession against any elite squad.

The tandem will be unleashed Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.

Northwestern athletics draw controls women’s lacrosse national title game Madison Smith Madison Taylor Maddie Epke Johns Hopkins North Carolina