HADLEY, Mass. – The Middlebury Panthers posted their second straight unbeaten mark in NESCAC action (10-0) to grab the top seed in the 2023 NESCAC Women's Lacrosse Championship for the 13th time in program history. Quarterfinal action begins on Saturday, April 29 on the campuses of the higher seeds. The four quarterfinal winners will square off in the semifinal round on Saturday, May 6 at the highest remaining seed, and the championship game is set for Sunday, May 7 at the site of the semifinal matches.
2022 NESCAC Championship Recap
The Tufts Jumbos won the 2022 NESCAC Women's Lacrosse Championship with a 9-8 victory over top-seeded Middlebury. Tufts also snapped Middlebury's 42-game win streak that dated back to March 2019. Goalie Molly Laliberty made nine saves in the Tufts net, including three in the fourth quarter, as the Jumbos' defensive effort held Middlebury to under 10 goals for the first time since 2019. Margie Carden scored a game-high five goals to lead the Jumbos offensively.
NESCAC Championship History
Five programs have won a NESCAC Women's Lacrosse title. Middlebury leads the way with 10 crowns (last: 2019). Trinity captured five consecutive titles from 2011 to 2015. Colby owns three conference titles (last: 2017) while Tufts won its second title in 2022. Williams won the 2010 NESCAC Championship.
#1 Middlebury Panthers
2023 Record: 15-0 / 10-0 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 21
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 13 (last: 2022)
NESCAC Titles Won: 10 (last: 2019)
Notes: 2022 NESCAC Runners-Up … Middlebury is the No. 1 seed for the 13th time in program history and the fifth straight tournament … The Panthers will host a quarterfinal game for the 11th time when they face No. 8 Bowdoin … Middlebury posted a 15-9 win over the Polar Bears in the NESCAC opener on March 8 … The Panthers are 3-1 against Bowdoin in the NESCAC Tournament series, including a 13-10 win in the 2018 championship game … Middlebury's perfect 10-0 record in conference play marks the ninth time the Panthers have gone unbeaten in the NESCAC and they are 20-0 over the past two seasons versus NESCAC opponents in the regular season.
TIEBREAKER: Wesleyan and Tufts both finished with identical conference records of 8-2. In head-to-head competition, Wesleyan defeated Tufts to earn the No. 2 seed.
#2 Wesleyan Cardinals
2023 Record: 13-2 / 8-2 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 11
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 1 (2021)
NESCAC Titles Won: 0
Notes: Following a 14-2 win over Conn. College in the regular season finale, Wesleyan has achieved its highest seed in program history at No. 2 … The Cardinals will host a quarterfinal for the third tournament in a row when they face No. 7 Williams … Wesleyan posted a 15-7 win over the Ephs on April 22 … The two teams have played each other once in the NESCAC Tournament with the Cardinals pulling out a 10-9 win in the 2004 quarterfinals … The Cardinals enter the championship riding a five-game win streak.
#3 Tufts Jumbos
2023 Record: 12-3 / 8-2 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 18
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 3 (last: 2022)
NESCAC Titles Won: 2 (last: 2022)
Notes: Tufts is the two-time defending NESCAC Champion … The Jumbos are the No. 3 seed for the second straight year and will host a quarterfinal game for the fourth tournament in a row … Tufts will play No. 6 Amherst in the opening round … The two teams met in the NESCAC opener on March 11 with the Jumbos earning a 14-9 victory … Amherst improved to 3-1in the NESCAC Tournament series following an 11-9 win in the 2010 quarterfinals … Tufts closed the regular season winning six of its last seven games.
#4 Colby Mules
2023 Record: 11-4 / 7-3 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 21
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 6 (last: 2017)
NESCAC Titles Won: 3 (last: 2017)
Notes: Colby is the No. 4 seed for the first time since 2017 … The Mules will host a quarterfinal game for the second straight tournament when they meet No. 5 Trinity … Colby earned a 12-11 victory over the Bantams on April 22 and the NESCAC postseason series stands even at 2-2 … The Mules won the last meeting in the 2017 quarterfinals, 13-9 … Colby enters the tournament having won 11 of its last 12 games.
#5 Trinity Bantams
2023 Record: 11-4 / 6-4 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 17
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 8 (last: 2017)
NESCAC Titles Won: 5 (last: 2015)
Notes: Trinity is the No. 5 seed for the first time in program history following a 13-10 win over Amherst in the final game of the regular season … The Bantams will travel to No. 4 Colby for a quarterfinal matchup … The Bantams dropped a 12-11 decision to Colby on April 22 and the NESCAC postseason series stands at 2-2 … The Mules won the last meeting in the 2017 quarterfinals, 13-9.
TIEBREAKER: Amherst and Williams both finished the regular season with identical conference records of 5-5. In head-to-head competition, Amherst defeated Williams to earn the No. 6 seed.
#6 Amherst Mammoths
2023 Record: 9-5 / 5-5 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 21
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 6 (last: 2014)
NESCAC Titles Won: 0
Notes: Amherst is the No. 6 seed for the first time since 2014 and will travel to No. 3 Tufts for the quarterfinals … Amherst fell to the Jumbos, 14-9, the NESCAC opener on March 11 … The Mammoths own a 3-1 edge over Tufts in the NESCAC Tournament series following an 11-9 win in the 2010 quarterfinals.
#7 Williams Ephs
2023 Record: 10-5 / 5-5 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 14
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 0
NESCAC Titles Won: 0
Notes: Williams has earned a spot in the NESCAC Championship field for the first time since 2016 … The Ephs are the No. 7 seed for the first time since 2010 and travel to No. 2 Wesleyan to open NESCAC Tournament action … Wesleyan posted a 15-7 win over the Ephs on April 22 … The two teams have played each other once in the NESCAC Tournament with the Cardinals pulling out a 10-9 win in the 2004 quarterfinals … Williams started the season with a 10-1 record.
#8 Bowdoin Polar Bears
2023 Record: 6-9 / 3-7 NESCAC
NESCAC Tournament Appearances (including this year): 18
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 3 (last: 2018)
NESCAC Titles Won: 0
Notes: Bowdoin is the No. 8 seed for the first time in program history … The Polar Bears will travel to No. 1 Middlebury for a quarterfinal matchup … Bowdoin fell, 15-9, to the Panthers in the NESCAC opener on March 8 … The Panthers own a 3-1 advantage against Bowdoin in the NESCAC Tournament series, including a 13-10 win in the 2018 championship game … The Polar Bears are looking to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2018, the same year they made their last appearance in the NESCAC title game.
