NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. - The Norwich University women's lacrosse team earned 2026 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Academic Honor Squad recognition, while four Cadets were named to the IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll, as announced by the organization this week.
Caitlyn Fielder (East Calais, Vt.),
Tori Jarvis (South Windsor, Conn.),
Abigail Kirrane (Lunenburg, Mass.), and
Athena Merck (West Yarmouth, Mass.) each received individual Academic Honor Roll recognition after helping Norwich pair another strong season on the field with continued success in the classroom.
The IWLCA Academic Honor Squad recognizes women's lacrosse programs across NCAA Divisions I, II, III, and NAIA that posted a team grade-point average of 3.20 or higher for the academic year. Norwich was one of 357 programs nationally to earn the distinction in 2025-26.
Individually, the IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll recognizes junior, senior, and graduate student-athletes who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. This year's Division III Academic Honor Roll featured 1,350 student-athletes from 174 institutions.
Norwich's four honorees represented several areas of study across the University. Fielder, a psychology major, earned the recognition after completing one of the most complete seasons in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Kirrane, a criminal justice major, and Merck, an international business major, both closed decorated senior seasons with academic honors, while Jarvis earned the distinction following her junior campaign.
The academic recognition adds to a 2026 season in which Norwich again established itself among the top teams in the GNAC. The Cadets finished 14-4 overall and 10-3 in conference play, matching the program record for GNAC victories and tying for the second-most wins in a single season in program history.
Norwich advanced to the GNAC Semifinals for the second straight season after earning a 13-12 sudden-victory overtime win over University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in the conference quarterfinals. The Cadets' postseason run came to a close against eventual runner-up Emmanuel College in the semifinal round.
Several of Norwich's IWLCA academic honorees also played central roles in the team's success on the field.
Fielder earned GNAC All-Conference First Team honors for the second straight season, marking the third All-Conference selection of her career. She led Norwich in total points, goals, assists, game-winning goals, free-position goals, ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls, while ranking among the conference leaders in nearly every major statistical category.
The senior midfielder finished the season with 76 points on 49 goals and 27 assists, along with 56 ground balls, 84 draw controls, and 33 caused turnovers. Across the GNAC, she ranked 10th in total points, 10th in goals, seventh in assists, fifth in ground balls, third in draw controls, and 10th in caused turnovers.
Merck collected GNAC All-Conference Third Team recognition for the second straight year after ranking second on the team in total points with 50 and goals with 36. She also added 14 assists, three game-winning goals, 23 ground balls, and 12 caused turnovers while finishing among the GNAC's top 25 in points, goals, assists, shots, and shots on goal.
Kirrane also earned the first All-Conference honor of her career, landing on the GNAC Third Team after serving as a key piece of the Norwich defensive unit. She finished the year with 25 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers, ranking fifth on the team in ground balls and helping anchor a defense that played a major role in the Cadets' return to the semifinal round.
Jarvis added to Norwich's academic representation after completing her junior season with the Cadets, giving Norwich four IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selections from a program that has continued to build a strong standard both academically and athletically.
The IWLCA academic honors continue a strong stretch for Norwich women's lacrosse, which has earned Academic Honor Squad recognition for three-straight seasons while remaining one of the GNAC's most consistent contenders. The Cadets have a combined 39 victories over the last two seasons, including 27 conference wins, while advancing to two consecutive GNAC Semifinals.
The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association represents women's lacrosse coaches and programs across all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, while recognizing achievement, leadership, and excellence within the sport.
