Regionally ranked No. 1, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s lacrosse team received its first bid in the NCAA Division III championships tournament and will play a first-round regional semifinal game at Colorado College on Wednesday, May 9.
Despite Saturday’s loss to Colorado College, the Athenas concluded the regular season with an overall record of 15-1.
“Team spirit is great, especially after finding out we are going to nationals. We are excited and ready for the rematch,” said Athenas’ center and midfielder Devon Scott ’10.
Eleven Scripps women have been vital to the Athenas’ rise to the third-ranking Division III team in the nation and their bid for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships.
“We have a strong Scripps contingent on our team, and they’ve been working hard towards the NCAA bid,” says Athenas’ coach Sarah Queener.
The Athenas lead the nation in scoring offence with 21 goals per game. Senior Mallory Singer, a fourth-year starting attacker, is a top scorer this season with 28 goals and 13 assists. Devon Scott leads the team in groundballs and draws (the Athenas currently have the most draw controls per game nationally with 16.44/game). The midfielder has also earned 18 goals and three assists this season.
But Singer and Scott are not the only Scripps contenders on the team.
Sophomores Kelly Dern, who plays attack, and defenders Katrina Kosco and Meghan Wilson have all been recognized as solid players. The Athenas are second in the nation in scoring defense (4.67/game). And Queener calls backup goalie Katyayani Strohl ’08 an “absolute team player… an awesome goalie.”
The first-year Scrippsies are a force to be reckoned with too. Attackers Colbi Brawner, Jennifer Cohen, and Cassy Delano and defenders Noor El-Mohandes and Julianna Bores continually challenge their opponents and have been essential in the team’s exceptional season and NCAA bid.
The Athenas lacrosse team will play at Colorado College on Wednesday, May 9, at 6 p.m.