The Colorado College women's lacrosse team saw its outstanding 2024 season come to an end on Saturday with a 20-9 loss to No. 1-ranked and two-time defending Division III champion Middlebury in the third round of the NCAA Championships in Middlebury, Vt.
 
Freshman Sofia Mancino tied her career-high with four goals and senior Devon Ortman found the back of the net three times but the Tigers could not overcome an 11-0 Middlebury run that spanned just over 15 minutes of action time.
 
Middlebury's Hope Shue scored one of her game-high five goals to open the scoring just 38 seconds into the contest. Later in the first quarter, Ortman and Mancino scored 44 seconds apart to even the score at 3-3 with 9:40 remaining in the opening frame.
 
Following Mancino's goal, Middlebury notched the next 11 goals, including four by Shue, until Mancino stopped the bleeding with 8:36 left in the second quarter.
 
Mancino also scored with 1:56 remaining in the first half to cut the Panthers' lead to 16-5 at halftime. Each team scored four times in the final 30 minutes.

"It was a tough day for us," head coach Susan Stuart said. "We struggled with the draw and starting without possession against a team like Middlebury can make for a long game. They have a spectacular team and it was a privilege to play post season and advance to the Sweet 16."

The Panthers held a 23-9 advantage in draw controls, including a 19-4 lead in the first half. Middlebury also outshot CC, 36-21, and collected four more ground balls (20-16).
 
Freshman Charlotte Iler and sophomore Grace Bean also scored and sophomore goalie Cassidy Schnaufer made 10 saves for the Tigers, who finished the '24 campaign with a 16-6 record.

"I am enormously proud of this team and all that it accomplished," Stuart said. "Our senior leadership was outstanding and they laid a foundation for a fantastic future ahead."

Middlebury, which won its 48^th straight game, advances to the quarterfinals against Pomona-Pitzer on Sunday.