The #1 Middlebury women’s lacrosse team opens a new chapter when it starts competition on Saturday, March 1 against #22 Amherst. The Panthers claimed their third-straight NCAA Championship last spring and 10th overall, concluding the year with a 23-0 record for the second-straight season. The program returns an experienced core group and welcomes nine newcomers.

Middlebury returns multiple options on the offensive end. Hope Shue garnered numerous accolades last spring, including being named the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) National Player and Attacker of the Year. Shue led the NESCAC  in goals (81) and points (106). Her 106 points were tied for the top spot in the Middlebury single-season record books. During the NCAA Tournament, Shue scored 19 times, garnering her the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor for the second-consecutive year. 

Maggie Coughlin and Caroline Adams are all-around options throughout the field. Coughlin was an IWLCA Second-Team All-Region honoree a season ago, pacing the team in assists with 27 and ranking fourth on the squad with 52 points. Adams garnered All-American Third Team, All-Region First Team and All-NESCAC First Team honors last spring. The Panther played in 18 games, pacing the NESCAC and ranking 19th nationally with 7.61 draw controls per game. She also tallied 53 points (33G, 20A).   

Kelcey Dion and Caroline Messer return to anchor the midfield unit. Dion had a solid campaign last spring, scoring 16 times with eight assists. She recorded a strong NCAA Tournament, scoring a goal in each of the five contests, highlighted by a two-goal, two-assist effort in the national title tilt. Messer appeared in every contest with 16 starts, scooping up 26 ground balls and causing 16 turnovers. She posted six goals and two assists, including a pair of tallies in a win over Babson.

The trio of Kylie Wilson, Madison Paylor and Grace Mumford provides experienced returners to the defensive unit. Wilson earned IWLCA All-American First Team honors alongside all-region and All-NESCAC First Team distinctions. The Panther started all 23 games, causing the third-most turnovers in the league (33) while collecting a team-best 42 ground balls. Paylor, a three-year starter, forced 17 takeaways and gathered 19 rollers a season ago, while Mumford has earned a starting spot each of the last two years. Goalies Gina Driscoll and Elizabeth Savage split time in the crease a season ago. Driscoll played in 18 contests with 13 starts, sporting a 6.38 goals against average (GAA), while Savage appeared in 18 games and had nine starts with a 5.62 GAA.

Livesay ’03 returns for her 10th season guiding the program. She leads the three-time IWLCA National Coaching Staff of the Year and is joined by assistants Olivia Seymour and Amy Patton.