With Four Consecutive Titles, Middlebury Goes Wire-to-Wire as No. 1

We have crowned a champion, as Middlebury beat rival Tufts 10-9 for its fourth consecutive NCAA Division III women's lacrosse championship.

After being taken to the brink in overtime against Colby in the semifinals, the Panthers were slow to start against the Jumbos, going down 4-0. As they’ve done all season, though, the Panthers responded, scoring the next four goals.

The teams exchanged goals throughout the remainder of the game, but the Panthers defense locked down Tufts in the second half, holding the Jumbos to only two goals — the second coming on an player-up advantage with 11 seconds remaining.

Tufts beat Gettysburg in the semifinals behind a strong draw control game, and it came out on top of that portion of the championship game as well, winning 14 draw controls compared to eight for Middlebury.

Alas, Middlebury is still the No. 1 team in Division III.

Continue below to see the entire final Top 20 of 2025, which is compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III
WOMEN'S TOP 20

1. Middlebury (21-1)
2. Tufts (21-2)
3. Colby (17-4)
4. Gettysburg (19-4)
5. Salisbury (16-5)
6. Wesleyan (15-6)
7. York (18-4)
8. Franklin & Marshall (19-4)
9. St. John Fisher (19-1)
10. Washington and Lee (18-5)
11. William Smith (14-5)
12. Stevens (17-5)
13. Denison (16-5)
14. Babson (15-4)
15. Pomona-Pitzer (18-3)
16. TCNJ (14-5)
17. Rowan (16-4)
18. Chicago (13-5)
19. Amherst (11-6)
20. Messiah (14-6) 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): Colorado College (18-4), Haverford (15-6), Ithaca (14-7)