D-III Women's Rewind: How We Got to the Final Four

The third round and quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse tournament saw some closely contested clashes – including three games that were decided by a single goal – as well as a major upset.

After all the dust settled, we have our final four: Middlebury, Tufts, Colby and Gettysburg.

Here’s how we got there.

BEST GAME

Colby vs. Wesleyan

For the second consecutive season, Colby and Wesleyan met in the NCAA tournament, and for the second consecutive year, the Mules scored seven goals and came out on top.

The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead, but it was the only lead they’d experience. But the game still came down to the wire.

Wesleyan held Colby to one goal in the fourth quarter and two goals for the entire second half to help stage a late comeback. The Cardinals scored three goals in the fourth quarter, with Mya Waryas scoring her second of the game with 43 seconds remaining to bring the deficit to one.

Wesleyan’s Dylan Green won the ensuing draw, her third of the game, but Gisele Uva caused her third turnover and picked up the ensuing ground ball to finally put the game away and help Colby advance.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Denison vs. Franklin & Marshall

The Big Red were 0-4 against the Diplomats in program history, and its third-round matchup looked grim when they were down 10-5 with nine minutes to go in the second quarter. Denison then went on a tear, scoring six consecutive goals in the final 6:13 of the half to take a one-goal lead.

Even when Franklin & Marshall scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to take a two-goal lead, Denison found enough in the tank to respond. Sydney Lavin scored back-to-back goals to equalize, and Anna DeVuono scored with just over five minutes remaining, representing the eventual game-winner.

Lavin and DeVuono tied for the team lead with four goals. Goalie Julianne Henigan made 14 saves.

THE ONLY NON-NESCAC REMAINING

In back-to-back games at the beginning of the season, Gettysburg beat Denison and Washington and Lee. This weekend, the Bullets completed the same feat, just in reverse order, to punch their ticket to the final four.

Gettysburg scored five consecutive goals from the end of the first quarter through the start of the second to take a 6-2 lead. Alhough Washington and Lee closed the gap to two with 3:33 remaining in the first half, Gettysburg scored the next four — including two from Grace Battle 31 seconds before halftime and 29 seconds into the second half — to keep the Generals at bay.

While Gettysburg went into the second half against Denison behind, it was another five-goal run — this time in the third quarter — that pushed the Bullets ahead for good.

This is the third time in the past four years Gettysburg will play in the final four. Since 2017, Gettysburg has played in three championship games, winning two.

THE STREAK CONTINUES

Middlebury’s 19-4 victory over York not only marked its third consecutive NCAA tournament win against the Spartans, but it also extended the Panthers’ NCAA tournament win streak to 23 straight games.

Middlebury flexed its might from the onset, as goalie Elizabeth Savage stopped a free-position attempt, Madison Paylor picked up the ground ball and Caroline Messer scored on the ensuing offensive possession. That was the first goal in a five-goal run to put York on its heels.

The Panthers have not lost an NCAA tournament game since they lost to Gettysburg in the 2018 NCAA championship.

BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

Hope Shue, Middlebury

Shue continued to write her name in the record book. Not only did she produce a game-high eight points on five goals and three assists (to go with two caused turnovers) against York, she set the program record for points in a season with 107. The previous record was shared by Shue and Jane Earley. Her five goals also gave her 70 over the course of her NCAA tournament career, which is the most in the history of the Division III tournament.

HONORABLE MENTION

Bella Garabo, York

In the Spartans’ 11-8 victory over William Smith, Garabo made 15 saves. That was a season high, a personal-best in NCAA tournament competition and a school record in an NCAA tournament game.

BY THE NUMBERS

20 • Salisbury held St. John Fisher scoreless for 20 minutes, stretching from 12:43 in the second quarter until Hannah Kumpf scored at the 12:33 mark in the fourth quarter. It was the fourth time this season the Sea Gulls held an opponent scoreless for at least 15 minutes.

100 • Middlebury senior Kelcey Dion scored two goals in the Panthers’ 23-6 victory over Chicago, giving her 100 for her career.

13 • Julia Daly was a force to be reckoned with in Gettysburg’s two victories this weekend. She scored four goals and added three assists in the third-round win against Washington and Lee followed by two goals and four assists in the quarterfinal win over Denison for a total of 13 points in two games.

12 • Wesleyan scored 12 unanswered goals in the first half of its third-round matchup against Rowan. Additionally, the defense shut out the Profs for the entire first half to take a commanding lead into the break.

44 • St. John Fisher defender Maddie Lowney caused two turnovers against Salisbury, giving her 44 for the season, a single-season program record. Laurie Quackenbush set the record with 42 in 2008.

THIRD ROUND SCORES

Colby 17, Stevens 6
Denison 16, Franklin & Marshall 15
Gettysburg 18, Washington and Lee 10
Middlebury 23, Chicago 6
Salisbury 10, St. John Fisher 5
Tufts 16, Pomona-Pitzer 8
Wesleyan 16, Rowan 4
York 11, William Smith 8

QUARTERFINAL SCORES

Colby 7, Wesleyan 6
Gettysburg 16, Denison 13
Middlebury 19, York 4
Tufts 8, Salisbury 7

SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE

All games scheduled for May 23. All times Eastern.

Middlebury vs. Colby, 4 p.m.
Tufts vs. Gettysburg, 7 p.m.