Second-ranked Middlebury will host an NCAA Regional on Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22 as part of the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship. In Saturday's first game at 11:30 a.m., the Panthers (18-1) will face 20th-ranked University of Chicago (18-1), while #8 Colby (15-3) and #9 William Smith (18-1) will play at 2:30 p.m. The winner of Saturday's games will square off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with a trip to the final four on the line. Tickets are priced at $6 for adults and $3 for students, with all three games to be played on Peter Kohn Field.
#2 Middlebury (18-1)
Team Highlights
- Middlebury is making its 26th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
- The Panthers are seeking their eighth national championship.
- Have a 67-18 record in NCAA play since they first qualified for the tourney in 1994.
- The program's NCAA tournament winning percentage (.788) is the highest mark in the history of Division III women's lacrosse.
- Middlebury won the 2019 NCAA title, which was the last full season played prior to 2022.
- Finished the regular season with an unblemished 15-0 mark (10-0 NESCAC)
- Suffered only loss of the year to Tufts in the NESCAC Championship by a score of 9-8.
- Had a 42-game winning streak, including 22 straight on Kohn Field, heading into the conference championship.
- Middlebury is the top scoring team in the NESCAC (15.79 GPG) and the best defense (6.26 GAA).
- The Panthers rank fifth in Division III in team defense.
Players To Watch
- #2 Hope Shue
- All-NESCAC Second Team
- Second on the team with 44 goals, including four in the NCAA victory over SUNY Geneseo
- Ranks third for the Panthers with 49 points
- #5 Jane Earley
- NESCAC Player of the Year and All-NESCAC First-Team selection
- Leads conference with 65 goals, tying a career high with six in the win over SUNY Geneseo
- Second in the league with 79 points
- #10 Erica Barr
- All-NESCAC First Team
- Leads squad in draw controls (64), groundballs (38) and caused turnovers (32)
- #15 Erin Nicholas
- All-NESCAC First Team
- Ranks among the team leaders in draw controls (42), points (31), goals (24), caused turnovers (22) and groundballs (18)
- #30 Lily Riseberg
- Leads team and ranks second in the NESCAC with 42 assists
- Second for the Panthers with 61 points
- #33 Annie Enrietto
- Ranks second in the NESCAC in goals against average (6.96)
- Fifth in the league with a .504 save percentage
- Owns an unblemished 12-0 record this season
#20 University of Chicago (18-1)
Team Highlights
- Making its second NCAA postseason appearance in the program's fourth season as a varsity sport
- Earned automatic bid after defeating Carthage 21-13 in the CCIW Championship.
- Has a 14-game winning-streak heading into this weekend, including a 19-14 victory over Capital in the NCAA Second Round.
- Ranks second in Division III in scoring margin (+12.43) and third in team defense (5.74 GPG)
Players To Watch
- #00 Rachel Keefe
- Ranks first in the CCIW in save percentage (.512) and second in goals against average (7.01)
- Has 95 stops this season, including 12 against Capital
- Named CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
- Earned the decision in goal during each of the Maroons' game this year (18-1)
- #11 Lally Johnson
- Selected CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
- Ranks second on the team in points (57) and assists (38)
- Three-time First-Team All-CCIW honoree
- #15 Lulu Hardy
- Two-time First-Team All-CCIW selection
- Leads the team in goals (54) and points (65)
- Second on the squad with 33 groundballs
- #16 Adriana Shutler
- Three-time First-Team All-CCIW pick as a defender
- Her 46 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers are both team highs
#8 Colby (15-3)
Team Highlights
- Earned an at-large bid after falling to Tufts in the NESCAC Semifinals, 10-7.
- Hosted NCAA First and Second-Round games last weekend, defeating USMMA 20-4 in the second round
- Posted a 9-1 record in NESCAC play and was the #2 seed in the league's postseason tournament
Players To Watch
- #00 Emily Podgorni
- Second-Team All-NESCAC recipient
- Posted a 13-3 record in 16 games this season
- Ranks second in the conference in save percentage (.539) and third in saves (130)
- #11 Gianna Bruno
- Two-time First-Team All-NESCAC selection
- Leads the conference with 81 points and 49 assists
- Had three eight-point games this season, including a three-goal, five-assist effort in the win over USMMA
- #12 Sarah Stark
- Two-time First-Team All-NESCAC honoree
- Paces the Mules with 36 groundballs and is second with 50 draw controls
#9 William Smith (18-1)
Team Highlights
- Won their sixth-straight Liberty League title and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with a thrilling 12-11 victory over #10 Ithaca.
- Hosted NCAA First and Second-Round games last weekend, getting past 18th-ranked Messiah in the second round, 17-10.
- Riding a 14-game winning streak coming into the regional, including a perfect 10-0 mark during league action.
Players To Watch
- #16 Maddie Montgomery
- Second-Team All-Liberty League laurels
- Leads the conference in goals (66) and is third in draw controls (104)
- Tallied a team-best seven free-position goals this season
- #17 Kate Risley
- Second-Team All-Liberty League honoree
- Tied for first on the Herons with 41 groundballs and third with 26 caused turnovers
- #22 Allie McGinty
- Tabbed the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year and the tournament's Most Outstanding Performer
- Leads the Liberty League with 100 points and 58 assists
- Eighth on William Smith's all-time career assists list with 63.
- #32 Maura Smeader
- Second-Team All-Liberty League as a goalie
- Paces the conference and ranks eighth nationally with a 7.23 GAA
- Started all 19 games for William Smith, accumulating 94 saves with an 18-1 record
