Photos Courtesy of Stockton Photos (Middlebury) / Steve McLaughlin (Wesleyan)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - For the seventh time in NCAA Division III women's lacrosse history, two NESCAC teams will play for the national title. The NESCAC made up 75 percent of the teams at the final four site in Rochester, N.Y. In one semifinal, Middlebury defeated Tufts in overtime to reach the national championship game for the fifth year in a row. In the other semifinal, Wesleyan defeated Salisbury, 5-4, to advance to the title game for the first time in program history.
The Middlebury/Wesleyan matchup is a rematch of the NESCAC Championship Game on May 3, which Middlebury won 7-5 on its home field. The regular season contest between the teams on April 4 resulted in a 5-4 Middlebury victory.
All-NESCAC NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse National Championship Games
2026: Wesleyan vs. Middlebury - 7th all-NESCAC national championship game
2025: Middlebury def. Tufts, 10-9
2022: Middlebury def. Tufts, 13-5
2016: Middlebury def. Trinity, 9-5
2003: Amherst def. Middlebury, 11-9
2001: Middlebury def. Amherst, 11-10 (2OT)
1999: Middlebury def. Amherst, 10-9
Middlebury def. Tufts, 10-9 (OT) | Box Score
Caroline Adams scored the decisive man-up goal in overtime as unbeaten Middlebury survived a stunning Tufts comeback to win 10-9 in overtime in an NCAA Semifinal at Judson Field on the campus of RIT.
Middlebury (22-0) appeared in complete control, leading 8-3 entering the third quarter after a dominant first half in which the Panthers outscored Tufts 8-1 with 4:30 remaining in the half. The Jumbos scored the next four goals sandwiched around halftime to climb back within three, 8-5, and added another four-goal spurt to outscore the Panthers 8-1 since the 2:53 mark of the second quarter. Sophia Claps' goal with 2.9 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 9-9 and forced overtime. Adams' extra-time goal propelled the Panthers to the national championship game.
Allie Zorn led Tufts (17-5) with three goals, while Eleanor Helm and Claps each added two. Claps also contributed two assists. For Middlebury, Adams finished with two goals and three assists, while Skylar Lach and Maeve Lee each added two goals.
Goalkeeper Annie Spring, inserted in the third quarter for Elizabeth Savage, made four critical saves to help stabilize the Panthers. Tufts won 12 draw controls to Middlebury's seven and the Jumbos outshot the Panthers 27-21 overall and 22-5 in the second stanza.
Wesleyan def. Salisbury, 5-4 | Box Score
Dylan Green scored three goals, including two decisive free-position strikes in the third quarter, as Wesleyan held off Salisbury 5-4 in the second semifinal of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament.
Green's back-to-back third-quarter goals at 9:37 and 5:31 proved to be the difference, pushing the Cardinals to a 5-3 advantage before Salisbury's Grace Doyle pulled the Sea Gulls within one with 2:23 remaining in the period. Wesleyan (19-3) withstood a scoreless fourth quarter despite Salisbury outshooting the Cardinals 6-4 in the final frame and generating sustained pressure.
Kyra Browne opened the scoring on a man-up goal assisted by Addie Cummings, who added a goal of her own in the second quarter. The two teams traded goals throughout the first half, with the score tied 3-3 at intermission before Green took over in the third.
Goalkeeper Izzy Weintraub was steady throughout, making nine saves and going perfect in the fourth quarter (6 saves) as Wesleyan protected the slim lead.
Salisbury (20-2) was led by Regan McDonnell's goal and assist, while Paige Ellis stopped eight shots in a losing effort.
