The Colorado College women's lacrosse team will compete in the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in program history and the first time since 2019. In its 30-year history, CC is 13-13 in the big dance. The Tigers will take on 12-6 Aurora University on Saturday at 12 p.m. MT at the University of Chicago.
 
Last Time Out 
 
CC rides into the NCAA Tournament on a high note as the team is less than seven days removed from winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in River Falls, WI. The Tigers downed UW-La Crosse to claim the inaugural WIAC Tournament crown and finish that portion of the season with a 14-5 record. CC went 8-0 against conference opponents, including the tournament. 
 
The Tigers handled the Eagles, outshooting their opposition 38-11. Senior captains Kendall Havill and Devon Ortman led the team with three goals each.In the semifinal matchup, CC routed UW-Eau Claire 22-8, marking the 10th 20-goal game this season, compared to last year, when the Tigers had none. 
 
CC's first-round opponent, Aurora, played two WIAC teams this year in UW-RIver Falls and UW-La Crosse, and won both contests, including an 18-17 overtime victory over River Falls. 
 
All-Conference Nods
 
Eight Tigers were named WIAC All-Conference. Havill was named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year, junior Evelyn Baher-Murphy is the Defensive Player of the Year, and freshman Charlotte Iler is the Newcomer of the Year. 
 
CC was tied for the most first-team selections, with Havill, Baher-Murphy, Ortman, and Iler all being named. Tobin Lonergan, Caroline Shay and Sofia Mancino were named second-team selections. Healy Bledsoe earned an honorable mention selection, while Bridget Hanley was named to the WIAC All-Sportmanship team. 
 
Havill earned her first conference Player of the Year award as she is in the middle of one of the best individual seasons in program history. Through the 19 games this season, Havill has set the program record for most goals in a season (82), and most goals in a single game (nine) and is currently second all-time with 104 points. She needs 10 more to tie Steph Kelly for most in a single season. 
 
Baher-Murphy solidified the Tigers' defense this season. The Mountain View native played and started in 18 games this season and helped CC hold their opponents to only 8.26 goals per game, the best mark in the WIAC and 34th best in the country. She led the team and was second in the WIAC with 24 caused turnovers, the 17th best in program history for most in a single season. 
 
Iler is on pace to surpass 200 career goals, sitting at an even 50 in her freshman campaign. She is first among all first-year players in the conference in goals and points. With 68 points, she is tied for sixth overall in the WIAC. 
 
History In The NCAA Tourney
 
CC appeared in 11 dances prior to this season. Its first appearance was in 1999, but the Tigers didn't collect their first tournament win until May 7, 2003, when they won the first-round match against the College of Wooster. That also marked the first tournament game CC ever hosted. 
 
For six consecutive seasons from 2002-07, the Tigers appeared in the tournament, including the 2005 season when CC won three games and made it to the semifinals before falling to No. 1 seeded and national runner-up Salisbury. 
 
The three tournament wins are still a program high, as the Tigers accomplished that same feat in 2007. 
 
CC has won nine consecutive opening-round matchups in the NCAA Tournament and will look to advance to Sunday to play the University of Chicago. Both Aurora and UChicago are teams the Tigers have yet to face in the postseason
 
Scouting The Opposition
 
Under the direction of Head Coach Christina Fried, the Spartan women's lacrosse program will make its fourth consecutive NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championships appearance. On the season, AU was 0-3 against their opponents, who also made the 2024 NCAA field of 46.
 
AU is led by junior midfielder Brianna Peck, senior attack Danielle Cobbett and senior defender Caitlin Cron. The trio won the NACC Midfielder, Attack and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Cobbett is the AU leader with 107 points on 44 goals and 63 assists. Peck has 61 goals and eight assists for 69 points while also collecting 109 draws, picking up 69 ground balls and causing 36 turnovers. Cron has 34 caused turnovers and 51 ground balls. 
 
As a team, AU averages 14.2 goals per game while allowing 8.8. The Spartans have converted on .413 of their free-position opportunities. Defensively, AU has caused 244 turnovers and has been successful on .770 of its clears.
 
UChicago is the regional host, and the Tigers have already faced the Maroons once this season. On March 16th, UChicago was ranked No. 18 in the IWLCA Top 25 national poll, and CC handled the Maroons 26-16. Havill scored a program record nine goals, and it was also head coach Susan Stuart's 300th career win
 
The Maroons await the winner of Saturday's matchup with a 13-4 record and a recent CCIW Tournament Championship win.