FEBRUARY 14, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH

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

😍  Happy Valentine’s Day. Do something nice for the loved ones in your life.

Headlines
🥍 A New Look for the Men in 2025
🗓️ The Weekend
🟨 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (M) Preview
🟦 NEWMAC (W) Preview
📊 More Preseason Conference Polls

📬️ Send to a Friend. You are receiving D3Lacrosse via email as a subscriber or because of your role as an influencer in DIII lacrosse. I would greatly appreciate it if you could forward to colleagues that you think would be interested in receiving the newsletter.

✅ Support Our Work. Please share with your assistant coaches, players, families and friends. We’ll deliver to your email inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 10 AM. You can also follow us on Bluesky for the most up-to-date news.

TOP STORY
1. Men’s Lacrosse Has New Look in 2025

by Steve Dittmore

“Just 239 institutions will sponsor men’s lacrosse in 2024-25, down from 247 in the 2019-20 academic year, and three fewer than sponsored the sport a year ago. Twenty-eight states, including the District of Columbia, will have one team represented.

New Programs.

Alfred State (NY) College - Coached by Ethan Thomson, the Pioneers restart varsity competition in 2025 following a four-year hiatus. The program was dropped after the 2020 Covid season. In 2019, Alfred State went 5-8 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). The Pioneers begin a 12-game schedule at Centenary University (NJ) on Feb. 22, 2025.

University of Pitt-Bradford (PA) - Coached by Scott Gwyn, the Panthers are a new program in 2025. Its sports programs also compete in the AMCC, but will compete as an independent in 2025, along with AMCC colleagues Alfred State, Hilbert, and LaRoche.

Elmira College (NY) - Like Alfred State, Elmira is sponsoring men’s lacrosse for a second time. The Soaring Eagles dropped the program after the 2021 season in which the team posted a 2-5 record in the abbreviated season. The school is turning to its previous head coach, Brendan Gorman, to lead this iteration of the team.

Lawrence University (WI) - Lawrence will field a new program in 2025 under coach Michael Zadroga. The Vikings will play their inaugural season as an affiliate member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Discontinued Programs

• Birmingham-Southern College closed at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

• Cabrini University closed at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

• Eastern Nazarene College closed at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

• Ferrum College will reclassify to Division II after the 2024-25 academic year and did not field a men’s lacrosse team in 2024.

• Keystone College will not sponsor a team in the 2025 season.

• University of Northwestern-St. Paul discontinued the program after the 2024 season.

• Wells College closed at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

Conference Realignment. Several institutions will be competing in new conferences for the 2025 season. Despite the presence of one fewer conference (the Midwest Lacrosse Conference no longer exists), 27 conferences still receive automatic qualification for the 2025 NCAA tournament as the Coastal Athletic Conference moves from Pool B to AQ. Here is what is new in 2025 by region.

Here’s Why Over 4 Million Professionals Read Morning Brew

• Business news explained in plain English

• Straight facts, zero fluff, & plenty of puns

• 100% free

See for yourself

Region I

• Commonwealth Coast Conference renamed Conference of New England

• Five AQ conferences (Conference of New England, Great Northeast Athletic Conference, Little East Conference, NESCAC, NEWMAC).

Region II

• Elmira (new), SUNY-Brockport (SUNYAC), SUNY-Geneseo (SUNYAC), and SUNY-Poly (North Atlantic) join the Empire 8 conference

• SUNY-Canton (North Atlantic), SUNY-Morrisville (North Atlantic) join the SUNYAC

• Alfred State College (new) and University of Pittsburgh-Bradford (new) become independents

• Six AQ conferences (Empire 8, Liberty League, North Atlantic Conference, Skyline Conference, SUNYAC, United East Conference).

Region III

• No changes. Six AQ conferences (Atlantic East Conference, Centennial Conference, Coastal Lacrosse Conference, Landmark Conference, MAC Commonwealth, MAC Freedom), up from five

Region IV

• No changes. Five AQ conferences (Ohio Athletic Conference, Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Presidents Athletic Conference, Southern Athletic Association, USA South)

Region V

• Midwest Lacrosse Conference no longer exists

• Cornell (MLC), Lake Forest College (MLC), Lawrence University (new), University of Dubuque (MLC) join NACC

• Northland College (MLC) becomes independent

• Five AQ conferences (CCIW, Heartland Conference, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, North Coast Athletic Conference, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference), down from six.

More NCAA tournament at-large bids. The 2025 NCAA Division III men’s lacrosse tournament will increase from 38 to 40 teams, opening the door for more at-large bids. In 2024, 27 conference champions received AQ, with 1 slot going to a Pool B school, and 10 at-large spots. In 2025, there will still be 27 conference championship AQs with no Pool B spots available. This increases the number of at-large spots from 10 to 13 for the upcoming season. The number of NCAA tournament first round games will increase to six in 2025.

AROUND THE NATION
2. Looking at the Weekend

Here are some of the key games to keep an eye on this weekend involving top-20 (and then some) teams.

PAC PREVIEW (M)
3. Hope-ing For Three Straight

Hope defeated Albion, 17-13, to capture the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association men’s lacrosse tournament title for a second straight season. The Flying Dutchmen and the Brits have battled for the MIAA crown every season since 2018.

After receiving a first-round bye, Hope traveled to Rochester and was eliminated by third-ranked RIT, 23-9.

Returning Statistical Leaders

Adrian (8-8, 3-3). Michael Jonas (Sr, 31-40-71), Derek Hassel (Sr, 14-24-38)
Goalie: Sam Spangler (Sr, 10.25 / 57.9%)
Albion (8-11, 5-1). Cal Stearns (Jr, 37-18-55), Brendan Mercier (Sr, 21-8-29)
Goalie: Caleb Howell (So, 11.16 / 53.8%)
Alma (1-12, 0-6). Kevin Koenn (Sr, 21-8-29); MJ Humphries (Sr, 17-3-20)
Goalie: Preston Stelljes (Jr, 24.88 / 26.2%)
Calvin (12-6, 4-2). Thomas Smith (Sr, 35-14-49), Christian Coler (Sr, 30-16-46)
Goalie: Corgan Schaumberg (Grad, 9.43 / 54.9%)
Hope (14-4, 6-0). Gibson Heethuis (So, 36-34-70), Sam Bowen (Sr, 26-29-55)
Goalie: Jack Balmforth (Jr, 9.28 / 57.5%)
Kalamazoo (5-8, 2-4). Logan Gillis (Sr, 17-25-42), Cam VanGalder (Sr, 29-3-32)
Goalie: Larson Makie (So, 8.98 / 51.0%)
Trine (7-10, 1-5). Kramer Zastrow (So, 24-15-39), Riley Fischer (So, 17-9-26)
Goalie: N/A

🥍 D3Lacrosse’s Preseason All-MIAA
A-Michael Jonas (Sr, Adrian); David Blackmon (Jr, Calvin); Gibson Heethuis (So, Hope). M-Christian Coler (Sr, Calvin); Jackson Early (Hope); Cal Stearns (Jr, Albion).
D-Cameron Reed (Sr, Adrian); Josh Gage (Sr, Calvin); Jack Bungart (Jr, Kalamazoo).
FO-Caden Brainard (Sr, Hope). LSM-Luke Wierengo (Sr, Hope). SSDM-Owen Mueller (Hope). GK-Jack Balmforth (Jr, Hope)

NEWMAC PREVIEW (W)
4. Beavers Look For “Three-Peat”

Babson won its second consecutive NEWMAC women’s lacrosse championship in 2024 with a 10-7 triumph against MIT in the final.

Both squads advanced to the NCAA tournament. The Engineers downed Plymouth State, 18-10, in the opening round before falling to William Smith, 12-9. After an opening-round bye, the Beavers dispatched Stevens, 11-9, before being ousted by Salisbury, 15-10.

Babson (17-3, 10-0). Amelia Novitch (Sr, 41-27-68), Kathryn Blake (Sr, 34-25-59)
Goalie: Morgan McGahan (So, 4.13 / 60.0%)
Clark (7-9, 3-7). Erin Lucas (Sr, 16-10-26), Elizabeth Cacciapaglia (Jr, 13-9-22)
Goalie: Annie Battle (Sr, 13.77 / 37.3%)
Coast Guard (13-5, 7-3). Abby McAllister (Jr, 46-51-97), Caitlyn Coates (Sr, 57-10-67)
Goalie: Maici Mintchwarner (Sr, 6.76 / 55.9%)
Emerson (5-10, 2-8). Ava Dellicompagni (So, 31-16-47), Callie Krosin (Sr, 22-25-47)
Goalie: Ellie Spotts (Jr, 19.84 / 35.1%)
MIT (17-5, 8-2). Ashley Thomas (Jr, 79-44-123), Julianne Flusche (Sr, 44-22-66)
Goalie: Molly Dulde (Jr, 8.82 / 51.9%)
Mount Holyoke (1-16, 0-10). Emi Bisson (Jr, 43-18-61), Ella Phillips (Sr, 12-5-17)
Goalie: Syd Baker (So, 17.96 / 39.3%)
Salve Regina (11-7, 5-5). Samantha Moleti (Sr, 35-15-50), Edie Threshie (Sr, 29-12-41)
Goalie: N/A
Smith (8-10, 5-5). Kyra Hawk (So, 34-15-49), Sadie Tschider (Sr, 33-14-47)
Goalie: Shannon Houtenville (Jr, 13.80 / 37.7%)
Springfield (15-5, 9-1). Lily Johnson (Jr, 49-15-64), Izzy Lalancette (So, 48-9-57)
Goalie: N/A
Wellesley (3-14, 1-10). Finley Tipton (Sr, 51-8-59), Lillian Games (So, 24-1-25)
Goalie: Anna Blake Patrick (Sr, 16.19 / 41.0%)
Wheaton (8-10, 5-5). Lara Finnie (Sr, 40-18-58), Riley Kilbourn (Jr, 19-12-31)
Goalie: Katie Geis (Jr, 11.27 / 35.3%)

🥍 D3Lacrosse Preseason All-NEWMAC
A-Amelia Novitch (Sr, Babson); Abby McAllister (Jr, Coast Guard); Ashley Thomas (Jr, MIT); Clare Connolly (Sr, Babson); Lily Johnson (Jr, Springfield). M-Jessica Evans (Sr, Babson); Gwen Flusche (Jr, MIT); Caitlyn Coates (Sr, Coast Guard); Izzy Lalancette (So, Springfield); Samantha Andresen (Sr, Springfield). D-Eileen Manning (Grad, Babson); Hannah Hibbert (Grad, Springfield);. GK-Molly Dulde (Jr, MIT).

CONFERENCES
5. Preseason Polls

It’s conference preseason poll time. That time where some coaches put some thought into making their annual selections, while others opt to list teams in their 2024 order of standing.

Nonetheless, we continue to share with our readers.

• Little East (M). “The Plymouth State University men’s lacrosse team was named the favorite to once again win the Little East Conference WestConn was picked to finish second.”

• MASCAC (W). “Reigning MASCAC Tournament Champs Westfield State seek their third straight title as the Owls have been picked by the coaches from around the league to win the 2025 women’s lacrosse title.”

• Presidents (W). “After winning their first conference championship in program history last season, Grove City College earned the top spot by a narrow margin in the 2025 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll.”

• United East (W). “The United East has rolled out its Women’s Lacrosse preview for the 2025 season. The United East consists of five teams, with each program squaring off against one another in a 4-game conference season.”

• WIAC (W). “Colorado College will seek a second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s lacrosse regular-season championship.”

NEWS YOU CAN USE
6. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

🗞️ News. “The Tewaaraton Foundation announce its 2025 Tewaaraton Award Men’s and Women’s Watch Lists presented by Stifel. The lists include the top players in college lacrosse and highlight the early contenders for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award. Middlebury senior Hope Shue was included on the list and is the only Division III among the nominees.”

📬️ Thanks for spending part of your day with us.
Please invite your friends and colleagues to sign up for D3Lacrosse