INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On Monday morning, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced the field for the 2025 Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament. The Messiah University Women's Lacrosse team earned an at-large bid and will travel to Lancaster, Pa. for opening weekend hosted by Franklin and Marshall College. Messiah will take the field at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 against the Purple Raiders of Mount Union.
Messiah has a season record of 13-5 and 6-1 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons enter the tournament via an at-large bid after being defeated by Stevenson University in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals. Mount Union is 14-4 with a conference record of 6-1. The Purple Raiders enter the tournament after a 13-8 win over John Carroll in the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship game.
The Falcons and Purple Raiders have never met on the field.
Read below for a quick preview of the NCAA Opening Weekend matchups:
Messiah University Falcons
13-5 Overall | 6-1 Conference
How They Got Here
The Falcons enter the tournament via an at-large bid after being defeated by Stevenson University in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals. Messiah is third in the conference with 13.33 goals per game and 5.89 assists per game.
Hayley Lettinga is third in the conference with 3.06 goals per game while
Grace Pettitt is second with 2.41 assists per game.
Grace Hejeebu is second in the conference with a 7.57 goals against average.
Players to Watch:
#6
Hayley Lettinga – 53 goals, 2 assists, .431 shot percentage, 10 caused turnovers, 20 ground balls
#21
Grace Pettitt – 31 goals, 40 assists. .525 shot percentage, 27 ground balls
#11
Emma Hagg – 74 draw controls, 56 caused turnovers, 67 ground balls
#7
Katie Bukiewicz – 28 goals, 3 assists, 65 draw controls, 17 caused turnovers, 29 ground balls
Messiah has an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 7-11.
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Mount Union Purple Raiders
Ohio Athletic Conference Champions
14-4 Overall | 6-1 Conference
How They Got Here
The Purple Raiders enter the tournament after a 13-8 win over John Carroll in the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship game. Ella Nejad is second in the conference with 68 goals while Katie Clark leads the conference with 76 assists. Abby Lindkvist leads the conference with her .503 save percentage.
Players to Watch:
#28 Ella Nejad – 68 goals, 14 assists, .680 shot percentage, 71 draw controls
#30 Edan Kesler – 56 goals, 18 assists, 97 draw controls, 33 caused turnovers, 45 ground balls
#22 Katie Clark – 42 goals, 76 assists, .538 shot percentage, 15 ground balls
#15 Abby Lindkvist – 14-4 record, 9.07 goals against average, .503 save percentage
History Against Messiah
This will be the first meeting between the Falcons and Purple Raiders.
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Franklin & Marshall Diplomats
Centennial Conference Champions
17-2 Overall | 8-0 Conference
How They Got Here
The Diplomats earned an automatic qualification after finishing as the Centennial Conference Champions after a 12-7 win over Gettysburg College. The Diplomats were second in the conference with 13.74 goals per game and 20.68 points per game. Lauren Pittman was fourth with 3.05 goals per game while Devyn Crone was second in assists per game with 2.21.
Players to Watch:
#24 Lauren Pittman – 58 goals, 22 assists, .487 shot percentage, 91 draw controls, 17 ground balls
#8 Lydia Cassilly – 52 goals, 30 assists, .456 shot percentage, 18 ground balls
#15 Lane Lamberth – 46 goals, 6 assists, 57 draw controls, 15 caused turnovers, 34 ground balls
#0 Sara DiGiovanni – 17-2 record, 7.92 goals against average, .535 save percentage
History Against Messiah
The Diplomats hold a 14-2 advantage in games against the Falcons. In their meeting earlier this season on March 5, Franklin & Marshall earned the 17-5 win.
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