AL’S FEARLESS 5IVE
Franklin & Marshall
Ithaca
Middlebury
Pomona-Pitzer
Tufts
For the NCAA Division III field, a lot of the drama is going to surround who is going to be able to stop Middlebury, the three-time defending national champions. But more specifically, who is going to stop senior attacker Hope Shue? She had 81 goals a year ago to lead the team, and will be very difficult to stop with a team of returning cast members around her.
Amongst the teams that the Panthers beat last year on the way to the title was Pomona-Pitzer. The team has become a threat out of California, and will use last year’s NCAA quarterfinal loss as fuel to improve their gameplay. Fiona Lewis, who had 60 goals a year ago, will lead the Sagehens along with leading assisters Shohi Henderson and Sydney Landauer. This is truly a team to keep an eye on.
Ithaca is also a team to watch. The Bombers won 18 games a year ago and were back in the national conversation for the first time in a while. Junior Lily Cody, who had 45 goals a year ago, will return to lead the attack. The question for this team, however, will be defense. Lexi Heid, who played all but three quarters a year ago, has graduated.
Tufts is a side which won their way to two national finals in the last five years, and is looking to make it back to that level. The Jumbos will be led by senior Margie Carden, who had 59 goals a year ago. Allie Zorn, Emma Joice, and Ella Lesperance will join her on the attack.
Another team looking to make it back to championship form is Franklin & Marshall. Lydia Cassilly, Lane Lambeth, and Lauren Pittman return from the Diplomats’ fantastic offense of a year ago, and will look to make it back to the Final Four for the second consecutive season.