APRIL 25, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH

Welcome to D3 Lacrosse, devoted to NCAA Division III men’s and women’s lacrosse

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TOP STORY
1. Denison, Ohio Wesleyan Meet For NCAC Title

In recent memory, it has been the game for the unofficial title of best team in the Midwest. It is the annual tussle for the North Coast Athletic Conference championship as Denison (12-4, 7-0) welcomes Ohio Wesleyan (12-3, 7-0) to Granville.

The NCAC awards its title to the regular-season champion, while the NCAA AQ goes to the tournament champion. The Big Red has won 22 NCAC crowns, including five straight, The Battling Bishops’ last conference championship was in 2018.

Denison, winners of nine consecutive games, is led by the 1-2 punch of Tommy Quinson (42-28-70) and Macky Peck (36-8-44), while Kevin Berutich also is a 40-point scorer (17-25-42). Andrew Albert has a 54.9 save percentage to go along with an 8.95 goals-against average.

OWU is also riding a 9-game win streak. The Bishops have a balanced scoring attack with four 30-goal scorers, led by Wade Beckstrom (39-23-62). Carson Geier (38-14-52), Henry Ross (36-22-58) and Joey Wiseman (30-6-36) also have reached the plateau. GK Nathan George has turned aside 51.4 percent of shots faced with a 9.84 GAA.

This is the 110th meeting between the long-time rivals with Denison holding a 60-48-1 all-time series lead.

» Watch LIVE

TOP GAME (W)
2. MAC Commonwealth Top Seed at Stake as Falcons, Spartans Meet in Finale

The regular-season title and the top seed for next week’s MAC Commonwealth tournament are on the line when #12 York (13-3, 6-0) entertains #19 Messiah (13-3, 6-0) in a top-20 showdown in the White Rose City.

The Spartans are riding a seven-game win streak in which they outscored their opposition, 127-23. Gianna Huet (30-27-57) and Zoe Kluegel (40-16-56) are 1-2 for YCP in scoring, while Sydney Mentzer makes the offense run with 32-9-41. 2024 IWLCA GK of the Year Bella Garabo has a 53.6 save percentage to go along with a 7.16 goals-against mark.

The Falcons have a trio of 30-goal scorers in Hayley Lettinga (52-2-54), Jordan Lewicki (36-2-38) and Grace Pettitt (30-40-70). A solid defense is backed by Grace Hejeebu who has a 6.77 GAA and a 46.8 save percentage on the season.

It’s the 17th meeting between the two foes separated by just 22 miles. York has won four straight and holds a 10-6 series lead.

» Watch LIVE

FEATURE
3. Universities Participating in the USDA Rural Loan Program Also Have a High Percentage of Athletes

by Steve Dittmore, D3Lacrosse.net

The news from the past week that Limestone University, an NCAA Division II school in South Carolina, was in desperate financial straits and may need to close was sad. Unfortunately, many believe still more schools will be forced into this decision.

Limestone has been a Division II men’s lacrosse power, playing in five of the last 10 national championships dating back to 2014, winning three. In this way, the Saints are not too dissimilar to Division III Cabrini University, which won the 2018 men’s lacrosse national championship, but ceased operations at the end of last season. Limestone has also experienced success in many other sports, garnering individual national championships in wrestling and swimming as well.

It wasn’t until I read Alissa Gary and David Jesse’s April 17, 2025 article in the Chronicle of Higher Education that I connected a couple of dots.”

» Why It Matters. In April 2024, Jesse published an insightful, investigative look into small, rural universities which had received loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The article, titled “The $2.2-Billion Bet,” highlighted a loan program known as the ‘Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.’ The program was designed to, according to Jesse’s reporting, “encourage new capital investment in rural areas, including on campuses.”

» Worth Noting. The most alarming conclusion from Jesse’s report, however, might have been this: “Despite the cheery words at groundbreakings, a Chronicle investigation — based on dozens of interviews and an analysis of data obtained through open-records requests — has found that the program, while often delivering a temporary positive bump to a campus and its balance sheet, can threaten the colleges’ long-term survival by loading them up with new debt and not delivering enrollment increases.”

» Go Deeper

FEATURE
4. Rosemont Celebrates Final Varsity Home Game Ahead of Villanova Merger

by Enrique Hervada, Inside Lacrosse

“When Rosemont College and Villanova University announced a merger on March 31st, it meant the end of athletics at Rosemont.

The men's lacrosse team played its final home game on Wednesday, April 16, defeating Cairn University 18-11.

It was a bittersweet night on the Main Line as many alums, family and friends were in attendance for the final go on the unique all-grey turf affectionally known as "The Grey."

» Field Awareness. “The school was founded in 1921 as an all-girls Catholic institution and became co-ed in 2009. Rosemont College, a.k.a. "The Mont," has a long, proud history of academics and athletics. In recent years, financial pressure and declining enrollment sent Rosemont along the path that many colleges have walked, searching for alternatives. A direct neighbor only separated by train tracks, Villanova stepped in and has basically acquired the property and will merge the two schools with the current campus to become known as the Villanova University Rosemont Campus.”

» Quotable. “"It's a very sad time at Rosemont. Luckily, the guys have each other and myself to lean on for comfort and conversation. The memories and bonds formed here will last forever. I took a chance on many of our players, challenging them athletically and academically to reach for their personal best. I am very proud of the life lessons they learned through lacrosse that kept all but two players over the years from leaving school."

» Continue Reading

STATISTICS
5. National Statistical Leaders

Here is a look at the national team leaders in scoring offense, scoring defense, extra-man offense and free-position percentage through Wednesday’s games.

SCHEDULE
6. What We’re Watching This Weekend

Friday
M: #20 Lynchburg (11-5, 8-1) at Randolph-Macon (10-6, 6-3)
W: Farmingdale State (8-7, 7-0) at Merchant Marine (10-2, 7-0)

Saturday
M: Franklin & Marshall (11-4, 5-2) at #7 Gettysburg (11-3, 7-0)
M: Oneonta (8-8, 5-1) at #11 Cortland (14-2, 6-0)
W: Muhlenberg (13-3, 5-2) at #4 Franklin & Marshall (14-2, 7-0)
W: Swarthmore (10-5, 4-3) at #18 Haverford (12-4, 5-2)
W: Lebanon Valley (12-4, 6-0) at #22 Stevens (12-4, 6-0)
W: #6 Rowan (14-1, 4-0) at TCNJ (11-4, 4-0)

Conference Tournaments
M: 1st Round - ODAC
M: Quarterfinals - Coastal, CNE, GNAC, MIAA, NESCAC, NACC, OAC, USA South
M: Semifinals - Atlantic East, SAA
M: Final - Heartland - Hanover (11-3) at Transylvania (10-5)

Conference Tournaments
W: 1st Round - ODAC
W: Quarterfinals - CNE, GNAC, MIAA, NESCAC, NEWMAC, NACC, OAC, SUNYAC, USA South
W: Semifinals - Atlantic East, United East
W: Semifinals/Final - SAA

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