Union College’s women’s lacrosse season ended with an impressive 14-7 record. The team’s leading goal scorer and point leader, junior Gillian Joseph, finished the year with 69 goals and 17 assists for a total of 86 points. Junior Maddy Schiller also had a standout season, finishing second on the team in goals and points with 60 goals and 21 assists, totaling 81 points. Lana Mickelson led the team in assists with 30 this season.
The team also made a strong run in the Liberty League Tournament, beginning with a 15-7 first-round victory. In the second round, Union defeated Ithaca 16-12 to advance to the championship game. They then faced a tough challenge against fifth-ranked William Smith, falling 13-8 in the title game. Despite the loss, Union earned an NCAA Tournament bid because of its impressive season.
Union opened the NCAA Tournament in dominant fashion with a 21-5 victory over Mount Union. Mount Union entered the game with a strong 12-5 overall record and a perfect 6-0 conference record. The Purple Raiders were led by senior Haylee Handrahan, who paced the team offensively with 44 goals and 23 assists for 67 points. Senior Ella Nejad also contributed heavily with 39 goals and 17 assists, totaling 56 points on the season. Even against a talented Mount Union squad, Union’s high-powered offense proved too much to handle.
In the win, Joseph scored seven goals and added one assist for eight points, while Schiller recorded four goals and one assist for five points. Senior Christina Guanci also had a huge performance with three goals and three assists for six points. In goal, senior Sydney Widlitz allowed just five goals against a strong Mount Union offense.
Their success this season came from both their explosive offense and consistent team chemistry throughout the year. The team’s veteran leadership, combined with the production of several returning underclassmen, gives Union a strong foundation heading into next season. With many key contributors expected to return, the Garnet Chargers could once again be among the top teams in the conference and a serious NCAA Tournament contender.
In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Union suffered a hard-fought 17-9 loss to third-ranked Salisbury. Despite the defeat, they finished the season with an outstanding record and plenty of momentum heading into next year.
