NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The third-seeded Norwich University women's lacrosse team will open postseason play on Saturday, Apr. 25, hosting sixth-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Quarterfinal matchup at 2:00 p.m. on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.
Norwich enters the tournament with a 13-3 overall record and a 10-3 mark in GNAC play after closing the regular season with a commanding 21-2 victory at Mitchell College. The Cadets secured the No. 3 seed through the conference tiebreaking process after finishing level with Lasell in league play, earning the higher spot by virtue of their head-to-head win over the Lasers earlier this spring. Norwich has now posted a 6-1 record at home and will carry one of the conference's strongest overall resumes into the postseason.
The Cadets have been one of the GNAC's most complete teams from start to finish this season. Norwich has totaled 220 goals and 98 assists across 16 games while averaging 13.75 goals per game, outshooting opponents 486-352 and holding advantages in ground balls, draw controls, caused turnovers, and clears. Norwich has also turned defense into possession consistently, posting 311 ground balls, 221 draw controls, 188 caused turnovers, and a .715 clear percentage, while limiting opponents to a .602 clear rate.
Caitlyn Fielder (East Calais, Vt.) has led the way for Norwich all spring, entering the tournament with 74 points on 49 goals and 25 assists. She has also made a major impact beyond the scoring column, leading the Cadets with 69 draw controls while adding 49 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers.
Athena Merck (West Yarmouth, Mass.) has provided another dangerous attacking option with 46 points on 32 goals and 14 assists, while
Vivian Buntin (Middlebury, Conn.) has added 40 points and a team-best 51 draw controls.
Caitlin Slider (Thetford Center, Vt.) has contributed 39 points,
Sophia Albright (East Dummerston, Vt.) has chipped in 33, and
Colby Magoon (Loudon, N.H.) has added 24 points to give Norwich impressive balance throughout the lineup.
The Cadets have also been strong on the defensive side of the ball, allowing just 8.75 goals per game this season while holding opponents to 140 goals through 16 contests.
Abigail Kirrane (Lunenburg, Mass.),
Sienna Caron (Griswold, Conn.),
Izzy Sirois (Hartland, Vt.),
Kaitlyn Eisentraut (Middletown, N.Y.), and the rest of the defensive unit have helped Norwich become one of the more disruptive groups in the conference, and
Bailey Ingala (West Hartford, Conn.) has anchored the effort in goal. Ingala enters the postseason at 9-3 with 98 saves and a 10.09 goals-against average, while
Kaylin Gonzalez (Navarre, Fla.) and
Audrey Campbell (Foxborough, Mass.) have also contributed in the cage this season.
University of Saint Joseph enters the tournament with a 10-7 overall record and a 9-4 mark in GNAC play, producing 233 goals and 129 assists across 17 games while averaging 13.71 goals per contest. The Blue Jays have also been active in the possession game, totaling 325 ground balls and 207 draw controls, while forcing 211 caused turnovers over the course of the season.
The Blue Jays are led offensively by one of the conference's most dynamic scorers in Anna LeGault, who has piled up 84 points on 61 goals and 23 assists. Kailey Krusewski has added 75 points on 65 goals and 10 assists, while Alana Picard and Reagan Buscetto have each surpassed the 40-point mark. Paige Rieger has contributed 26 points, and Kaylynn Lapointe has added 24, giving Saint Joseph multiple proven options throughout the attacking third. In goal, Colleen Stringer has handled the bulk of the workload, posting 94 saves and a 10.84 goals-against average across 553:19 of action.
Saint Joseph already owns a victory over Norwich this season, taking a 14-11 decision in a game that unfolded across two dates after being suspended on Mar. 20 because of unsafe snowy conditions before resuming on Apr. 16. In that meeting, Norwich showed resilience after falling behind in the second quarter. Merck scored four times, Fielder posted a hat trick and an assist, and Magoon added three points as the Cadets trimmed the deficit to one entering the fourth quarter. Even in defeat, Norwich controlled several important statistical areas, including a 25-15 edge in ground balls, a 14-12 advantage in draw controls, and 20 caused turnovers, underscoring how competitive the matchup remained throughout.
Saturday's winner will advance to the GNAC Semifinals on Tuesday, Apr. 28, to face second-seeded Emmanuel College or seventh-seeded New England College.
