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January 24, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH

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

🥍 Welcome to D3Lacrosse. From the team that brings you D3Playbook every weekday comes a new email newsletter devoted to the creator’s game - at the non-scholarship DIII level.

Headlines
🏛️ Maybelline Becomes Title Sponsor For Women’s Lax League
🥍 NESCAC Preview
💜 Kenyon Player’s Spirit Being Kept Alive
✨ Sparks Fly at Tierney Field

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1. Maybelline and Women’s Lacrosse League Announce Partnership

by Premier Lacrosse League

“The Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL) and Maybelline New York today announced a groundbreaking partnership, with the global leader in cosmetics to be the title sponsor of the renamed Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League, and the Official Beauty Partner of the WLL.

Launched in November 2024 by the Premier Lacrosse League, the Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League will debut at the 2025 Championship Series taking place February 11-17 at The St. James outside Washington, D.C. The league’s inaugural four teams – the Boston Guard, New York Charging, Maryland Charm, and California Palms – will compete for the Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League title in the Olympic Sixes game format set to bring women’s lacrosse to the Olympics for the first time in 2028.

The partnership represents a significant investment in women's professional sports and demonstrates Maybelline's commitment to empowering female athletes. The collaboration with the WLL will help accelerate the growth of professional women's lacrosse while creating new opportunities for players and fans alike.”

» What They’re Saying. "Maybelline’s partnership as our title partner of the Women’s Lacrosse League is a celebration of confidence, empowerment, and resilience—the very qualities that define our athletes and Maybelline’s legacy,” said Paul Rabil, Co-Founder and President of the PLL and WLL. “Together, we’re committed to elevating women’s sports, inspiring the next generation of players, and showcasing excellence both on and off the field. This collaboration highlights the rising influence of women’s lacrosse and our shared dedication to breaking barriers and driving lasting impact."

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» Quotable. “We’re thrilled to launch the Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League, empowering the next generation of professional female athletes and supporting the growth of women’s lacrosse,” said Jessie Feinstein, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Maybelline New York.”

» Field Awareness. “According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the sport saw a surge in participation with steady growth until the start of the pandemic in 2020. Now, it is regaining popularity again and is the 10th most popular sport among high school girls.”

» DIII Connection. At least one DIII graduate is on the roster for one of the four teams - two-time National GK of the Year Molly Laliberty (Tufts) will play for New York Charging.

» Continue Reading

2. Preview: NESCAC (W)

Can Middlebury “four-peat’? Is that even a word?

The Panthers have won three consecutive NCAA Division III titles and 10 overall and return National Player of the Year Hope Shue. The Conference is always one of the tops in DIII and Middlebury will be challenged by Tufts and Wesleyan.

Returning Statistical Leaders

Amherst (8-8, 4-6) | Goals: Bridget Finley (38) | Assists: Kate Becker (17)
Goalie: Jessye Salmon (12.37 / 39.9%)
Bates (6-9, 2-8) | Goals: Lauren Wong, Laci Raveis (23) | Assists: Wong, Raveis (7)
Goalie: Avery Lehman (13.99 / 37.1%)
Bowdoin (8-8, 4-6) | Goals: Lauren Burke (25) | Assists: Burke (9)
Goalie: Sophie Brett (12.31 / 39.0%)
Colby (13-7, 5-5) | Goals: Julia Jardina (48) | Assists: Tate Ban (29)
Goalie: N/A
Connecticut College (7-8, 2-8)| Goals: Kate Coughlin (35) | Assists: Aine Downey (17)
Goalie: N/A
Hamilton (7-8, 5-5) | Goals: Julia Lee (28) | Assists: Aine Cleary (9)
Goalie: Eliza Schwarz (10.84 / 38.0%)
Middlebury (23-0, 10-0) | Goals: Hope Shue (81) | Assists: Maggie Coughlin (27)
Goalie: Elizabeth Savage (5.62 / 50.8%)
Trinity (9-9, 4-6) | Goals: Molly McGuckin (52) | Assists: Brooke Kurtz (36)
Goalie: Ali Macdougall (10.99 / 37.9%)
Tufts (16-4, 8-2) | Goals: Margie Carden (59) | Assists: Ella Lesperance (48)
Goalie: Pascale de Buren (9.26 / 43.7%)
Wesleyan (16-4, 8-2) | Goals: Kiara Tangney (21) | Assists: Becca Dibble, Sam DeLeo
(15) | Goalie: Izzy Weintraub (8.15 / 46.4%)
Williams (7-7, 3-7) | Will Doran (Jr, A, 20-18-38), Ryan Johnson (15-6-21)
Goalie: Matt Wetmore (11.89 / 52.7%)

D3Lacrosse’s Preseason All-NESCAC
A-Caroline Adams (Middlebury), A-Margie Carden (Tufts), Ella Lesperance (Tufts), Hope Shue (Middlebury), Molly McGuckin (Trinity), Clara Sosa (Amherst), Allie Zorn (Tufts). M-Julia Jardina (Colby), Kiara Tangney (Wesleyan), Claudia Russell (Williams).
D-Kathryn Fernandopulle (Tufts), D-Kat Munter (Colby), D-Kylie Wilson (Middlebury), Molly Hellman (Williams). GK-Izzy Weintraub (Wesleyan).

3. Preview: NESCAC (M)

Wesleyan won its first NESCAC championship since 2017 with a 9-7 triumph over Middlebury before its home crowd in Middletown.

Four squads were selected to the NCAA Division III tournament with Bowdoin and Tufts joining the Cardinals and the Panthers in the field.

The Polar Bears and the Jumbos reached the Final Four with Tufts capturing its fourth NCAA crown with an 18-14 victory over RIT.

Returning Statistical Leaders

Amherst (10-6, 6-4) | Brendan Reilly (So, A, 41-11-52), Bob Gross (Jr, A, 39-20-59)
Goalie: Brooks Catlin (9.71 / 59.2%)
Bates (3-11, 0-10) | Gray Doyle (So, A, 24-18-42), Connor Hartman (Jr, M, 19-7-26)
Goalie: Andrew Toland (14.98 / 48.8%)
Bowdoin (14-6, 8-2) | Jason Lach (Sr, A, 64-11-75), Casey Ryan (So, A, 35-24-59)
Goalie: Robert Hobbs (Sr, 10.57 / 56.0%)
Colby (6-8, 2-8) | Gavin Rothenberg (So, A, 32-9-41), Bennett Goller (Sr, M, 19-20-39)
Goalie: Will Heisler (Jr, 11.69 / 56.6%)
Connecticut College (5-9, 1-9) | JJ Ford (Sr, A, 26-13-39), Aidan McAvoy
(Sr, A, 11-25-36) | Goalie: N/A
Hamilton (9-7, 4-6) | Thomas Healy (Jr, A, 33-18-51), Frank Coyle (Jr, A, 24-14-38)
Goalie: Jack Fried (Sr, 11.05 / 59.2%)
Middlebury (12-9, 6-4) | Russell Thorndike (Sr, A, 49-13-62), Billy Curtis
(Sr, A, 28-32-60) | Goalie: Hayden Kern (Jr, 10.01 / 54.0%)
Trinity (9-7, 5-5) | Bo Page (So, A, 25-21-46), Jon Krikorian (Sr, A, 21-16-37)
Goalie: Jordan Opdahl (Sr, 11.77 / 54.2%)
Tufts (18-3, 9-1) | Jack Regnery (Jr, M, 77-37-114), Max Ettinghausen (Sr, A, 57-23-80)
Goalie: Conner Garzone (Sr, 10.87 / 52.0%)
Wesleyan (15-4, 8-2) | Jack Raba (Grad, A, 20-57-77), CK Giancola (Grad, M, 58-11-69)
Goalie: Conor Selfridge (9.82 / 53.1%)
Williams (9-7, 6-4) | Goals: Claudia Russell (28) | Assists: Franny Donahue (12)
Goalie: Caroline Pratt (7.69 / 50.5%)

D3Lacrosse’s Preseason All-NESCAC
A-Jack Raba (Wesleyan), Jason Lach (Bowdoin), Jack Regnery (Tufts), Bob Gross (Amherst). M-CK Giancola (Wesleyan), Charlie Tagliaferri (Tufts), Alex Giacobbe (Amherst), Garrett Kelly (Tufts). D-Jed Hoggard (Bowdoin), Lawson Lavery (Amherst), Joey Waldbaum (Tufts). FO-Nicholas Kopp (Amherst). LSM-Thompson Lau (Amherst). SSDM-Matthew Sheinberg (Amherst). GK-Jack Fried (Hamilton).

4. 18 Months After His Death, Kenyon Player’s Spirit Being Kept Alive

by John Walk, LNP | Lancaster Online

“Lucian Li had no boundary for who was his friend.

“He was always open and welcoming to everybody,” father Eric Chen-Ta Li said. “He always wanted to include people.”

Yet, Chen-Ta Li said he feels that type of human approach isn’t much recognized in schools.

“Schools focus on academics or athletics, it’s all about achievement,” he said. “But this simple, day-to-day interaction with humans isn’t really a focus.”

» Background. “That feeling has led to the recent creation of awards at Manheim Township (Pa.) High School honoring students who uphold qualities like being empathetic, inclusive, joyful, kind and hard working. Those were qualities Lucian Li displayed as a student-athlete at the school before his graduation in 2022. A little more than a year later, Li died unexpectedly from injuries sustained in a car crash with a wrong-way driver.”

» The Big Picture. “Since his death, Li’s parents have launched the Live For Lucian Foundation, while students at the high school created the Live For Lucian Club. Both have a similar goal in mind. “Our main thing is to spread joy, kindness, happiness,” club co-founder Elliana Romano said. “Everything that Lucian stood for.”

» The Key Stat. “Kenyon coach Doug Misarti has created the annual Lucian Li Best Teammate Award. This board hangs inside the Kenyon locker room each season. The first recipient of the award was Will Jordan, who was a passenger in crash. “Wearing No. 25 is a way to remember all the blessings I have to be able to continue playing and do it in a way that will honor Lucian,” Jordan said.”

» Continue Reading

5. Sparks Fly at Tierney Field

📆 There are five DIII men’s and three DIII women’s games scheduled for USA Lacrosse’s Tierney Field in Sparks, Md., this season. The first game is scheduled for February 12 as Stockton takes on Southern Virginia.

» Men: Alfred vs. Wittenberg (3/11); Marywood vs. FDU-Florham (3/15); Middlebury vs. Babson (3/18); Amherst vs. Denison (3/20); Grove City vs. Connecticut College (4/12).

» Women: Roanoke vs. Ithaca (3/12); Rochester vs. Stevenson (3/14); Stevens vs. Mary Washington (4/18).

6. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

🔴 “The Dickinson men's lacrosse team was recognized for their service to the Carlisle community earlier this week at the NCAA National Convention as they received a runner-up finish for the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) Community Service Award. Dickinson held its 18th Annual Volleyball-A-Thon back in September. The team partners with the Greater Pennsylvania Region Chapter of the American Red Cross and collects donations to go play volleyball for 24 consecutive hours. The 2025 team raised a program record $22,062.”

7. Comings and Goings

BABSON - Episcopal Academy M Connor Marciano announced his commitment
COAST GUARD - Episcopal Academy A Liam Miller announced his commitment
COLBY - Episcopal Academy FO Blake Riley announced his commitment
 

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