Conference Semifinals: Chanticleers Summon More Postseason Magic

Top seeds advanced in seven of eight NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse conferences that had semifinals Thursday. The lone exception, Jacksonville, fell to a familiar foe conjuring postseason magic.

Here’s a recap of the action.

✅ RESULTS

Conference semifinal scores from Thursday:

(1) Robert Morris def. (4) Detroit Mercy 13-9 (MAC) 
(1) Stony Brook def. (4) Elon 15-4 (CAA) 
(4) Richmond def. (5) St. Bonaventure 11-8 (A10) * 
(3) LIU def. (2) Wagner 13-7 (NEC) 
(4) Coastal Carolina def. (1) Jacksonville 11-10 (ASUN) 
(1) Denver def. (4) Georgetown 20-9 (BIG EAST) 
(3) Akron def. (2) Eastern Michigan 16-4 (MAC) 
(2) Drexel def. (3) Delaware 20-11 (CAA) 
(6) VCU def. (3) Davidson 16-10 (A10) * 
(1) Loyola def. (4) Holy Cross 21-8 (PATRIOT) 
(2) Liberty def. (3) Lindenwood 17-12 (ASUN) 
(1) Stonehill def. (4) Saint Francis 11-9 (NEC) 
(2) Villanova def. (3) UConn 16-10 (BIG EAST) 
(1) James Madison def. (4) Vanderbilt 16-6 (AAC) 
(1) Florida def. (4) UC Davis 22-2 (BIG 12) 
(3) Navy def. (2) Army 18-9 (PATRIOT) 
(2) S. Florida def. (3) East Carolina 14-12 (AAC) 
(3) Arizona State def. (2) Colorado 18-12 (BIG 12)

* quarterfinals

🎟️👊 TICKET PUNCHED

LIU

Regardless of the result Saturday, the Sharks have earned the Northeast Conference’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament because Stonehill is still reclassifying from Division II. LIU was the outright conference champion last year and can make it a moot point in the final.

🐎 STILL IN THE RACE

Conference championships set for Saturday:

(3) Akron vs. (1) Robert Morris (MAC) 
(2) Drexel vs. (1) Stony Brook (CAA) 
(3) LIU vs. (1) Stonehill (NEC) 
(4) Coastal Carolina vs. (2) Liberty (ASUN) 
(2) Villanova vs. (1) Denver (BIG EAST) 
(3) Navy vs. (1) Loyola (PATRIOT) 
(2) South Florida vs. (1) James Madison (AAC) 
(2) Colorado vs. (1) Florida (BIG 12)

💰 BID THIEVES LURKING

South Florida

Stranger things have happened. The Bulls, playing for a conference championship in their very first season, scored the last two goals to pull away from East Carolina 14-12 in the AAC semifinals. They’ll face James Madison with a chance to make more history Saturday. A Dukes loss would shrink the at-large field by one. And that could be bad news for bubble teams like Army, which got doubled up by Navy 18-9 in the Patriot League semifinals. Will the selection committee put three Patriot teams (Army, Navy and Loyola) into the NCAA tournament?

😮 BIGGEST UPSET

Coastal Carolina over Jacksonville

Coastal Carolina breaks Jacksonville’s heart once again. The Chanticleers, last year’s ASUN champion courtesy of a one-goal win over Jacksonville in the final, became the first No. 4 to beat a No. 1 seed in 2025. Bolstered by six points from Sydney McClure, they clipped the Dolphins 11-10. Jacksonville won the regular season meeting 22-10 on April 17.

🌟 TOP PERFORMANCES

Jenna Irwin, Robert Morris — The senior midfielder from Liverpool, N.Y., scored four goals and added two assists to help thwart an upset bid by Detroit Mercy, which beat then-No. 1 Central Michigan as the No. 4 in last year’s MAC semis.

Natalia Altebrando, Stony Brook — Who says goalies in backer zones just sit there? Altebrando tallied a career-best 12 saves and allowed just four goals to inch Stony Brook closer to yet another conference crown with a 15-4 CAA semifinal win over Elon.

Sydney McClure, Coastal Carolina — A fifth-year senior from Marietta, Ga., McClure led fourth-seeded Coastal Carolina to the day’s first upset, an 11-10 win over ASUN regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Jacksonville. McClure’s final goal at the10:27 mark of the fourth quarter proved to be the difference-maker.

Olivia Ripple, Denver — The sophomore was a force on both ends of the field, notching game highs of seven goals and seven ground balls in Denver’s 20-9 rout of Georgetown.

Katie Colavito, Liberty — The ASUN Midfielder of the Year did it all in a 17-12 conference semifinal triumph of Lindenwood. Her six goals and four caused turnovers were both game highs. She also corralled five ground balls and four draw controls.

Chase Boyle, Loyola — Seven goals and 11 draw controls — just another day at the office for the Tewaaraton candidate. Boyle and Georgia Latch (four goals, five assist) propelled the Greyhounds to their 11th straight Patriot League final.

Jordyn Behar, Arizona State — The junior attacker continued her breakthrough season with an 11-point (four-goal, seven-assist) showing in Arizona State’s 18-12 Big 12 semifinal win over Colorado. The Wildcats could be bid thieves in their own right. They’ll play Florida for the conference title. The Gators beat ASU 17-4 last week.

💔 TOUGHEST LOSS

St. Bonaventure

The Bonnies are 0-6 in Atlantic 10 tournament games in their 25 years as a program. They made four appearances in the tournament from 2003-2007 before going 16 years without an appearance. Back in the mix, St. Bonaventure led early against defending conference champion Richmond and the game was tied at 8 before the Spiders pulled away with three goals in the final three minutes to prevail 11-8.