The #1 Middlebury women’s lacrosse team opens a new chapter on Saturday, February 28 against Bowdoin. The Panthers claimed their fourth-straight and 11th overall NCAA Championship last spring, concluding the year with a 21-1 record. The program returns an experienced core group and adds 10 newcomers.

Middlebury welcomes back experienced options on the offensive end. Caroline Adams garnered numerous accolades last spring, including her second consecutive Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Third-Team All-American honor. Adams was second in the NESCAC in draw controls (128) across 22 games and enters her senior season as the program’s career leader with 349 wins. Along with her efforts in the circle, she ranked second on the squad with 48 goals and third with 67 points. 

Skylar Lach was an IWLCA Second-Team All-Region honoree a season ago, ranking fourth on the team in markers (41) and points (51). She landed a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team, racking up seven goals and a pair of assists during the Panthers’ five victories. Lach tallied the game-winning goal in overtime during Middlebury’s 13-12 NCAA Semifinal triumph over Colby. 

Haley Hamilton and Maddie Ackerman anchor the midfield unit. Hamilton collected 18 caused turnovers to rank fourth on the squad last spring. She played in every contest with 19 starts, scooping up 21 ground balls and adding 14 draw controls. Ackerman appeared in 19 contests, gathering pairs of ground balls in the NCAA Semifinals and NCAA Championship games. She posted five goals a season ago, including a pair of tallies in a win over Bates.

The trio of Caroline Messer, Lucy Bishop and Macy Sweeny are seasoned players on the defensive end. Messer earned a spot on the IWLCA All-Region Second Team and was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. The Panther started 21 contests, securing a team-high 38 ground balls and causing the third-most turnovers on the squad (21). The three-year starter also stepped forward with a trio of goals and a pair of assists. Bishop saw action in 20 games with nine starts last spring. She was second on the squad with 73 draw controls and gathered five rollers a season ago, while Sweeny logged minutes in every contest during her initial year. She racked up 16 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. Goalie Elizabeth Savage split time in the crease a season ago, playing in 18 contests with five starts. She sported a 6.94 goals against average (GAA) and owns a 17-0 record entering the season.

Livesay ’03 returns for her 11th season guiding the program. She leads the four-time IWLCA National Coaching Staff of the Year, joined by assistants Olivia Seymour and Amy Patton, while welcoming assistant Bowen Holden to the staff.