MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – With nine first place votes, defending NEWMAC Champions Babson College take the top spot in the 2025 NEWMAC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll. Head coach Michelle Smith returns for her 13th season after leading the Beavers to a school-record 17 wins last season, along with NEWMAC regular season and tournament championshipships. Among the returners is NCAA draw controls leader (10.60 per game) and All-American Clare Connolly, who was one of five returners to earn both all-region and All-NEWMAC honors along with Amelia Novitch, Jessica Evans, Eileen Manning and Kathleen Murphy. 
 
MIT claimed the final two first place votes, nabbing the runner-up spot. Head coach Anne Versprille returns for her ninth season at the helm of the program, along with 18 student-athletes. Headlining the returners is Ashley Thomas, the 2024 NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Year and two-time All-American who led the NEWMAC with 83 goals in 2024. Fellow first team All-NEWMAC honorees Gwen Flusche and Molly Dulde will also return.
 
Springfield College claims third place in the poll, as head coach Jennifer Thomas returns for her third season after earning Co-Coaching Staff of the Year honors last season. They will return 2024 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year Izzy Lalancette, who totaled 24 goals and six assists in conference play.

Landing in the fourth spot is U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The Bears are coached by Sue Behme, and will return two first team All-Conference honorees from 2024, Caitlyn Coates and Abby McAllister. The two combined for 103 goals last season.  

Fifth place goes to Smith College, who returns three of its top-five goal scorers from a season ago in Kyra Hawk (34), Sadie Tschier (33), and Caroline Sanders (29). Under the direction of Katie Moore, who enters her 10th season, Smith welcomes nine newcomers ready to make an impact.
 
Wheaton College takes the sixth spot. Head Coach Emily Kiablick returns for her 16^th season with the Lyons and will coach a strong group of returners led by senior Lara Finnie, who netted 40 goals last season.

Salve Regina University enters the poll in the seventh spot. Meghan Malloy returns for her second as head coach and will have a veteran squad including senior goalie Grace Haesche, who posted a .502 save percentage last season.
 
Clark University takes the eighth spot. The scarlet and white bring back 13 returners from last year. Including senior Erin Lucas, who is the top returning scorer from a season ago with 16 goals and 10 assists.
 
Emerson College lands in the ninth spot, led by Jessie Koffman, who enters her seventh season for the Lions. Emerson is returning a strong group of starters, including Ava DelliCompagni, who contributed 31 goals and 16 assists last season.

Wellesley College slides into the tenth-place spot, and will be under the direction of new Head Coach Corinne Desrosiers. The Blue return 12 student-athletes, including Finley Tipton, who had 51 goals last season.

Mount Holyoke College rounds out the poll in eleventh place. Head Coach Annie O'Byrne returns for her third season. Junior attack Emi Bisson will also return after leading the Lyons with 43 goals last season.  
 
The NEWMAC Women’s Lacrosse Champion will be crowned on May 3.
 
2025 NEWMAC Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
 
1. Babson (9)
2. MIT (2)
3. Springfield 
4. Coast Guard 
5. Smith 
6. Wheaton 
7. Salve Regina
8. Clark 
9. Emerson 
10. Wellesley 
11. Mount Holyoke 
 
About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.