The fifth ranked University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team will travel to Gettysburg, Pa., on Saturday for a matchup with third ranked Gettysburg College in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Eagles, who set a school record with their 17th win of the season in Sunday's 18-6 victory over Mount Union in the second round, will face the 17-2 Bulets on Saturday at 11:30 AM. In the second match of the day, 15th ranked Wesleyan (CT) will face #6 Amherst. Those winners will meet Sunday with the right to go to the national semifinals the following weekend in Salem, Va.
Saturday's game will be a rematch of a game played in the regular season between the two top-five ranked teams. On March 15, then-undefeated Gettysburg downed the Eagles, 12-4, as UMW took their first loss of the year. The Eagles hung close for the first half, and trimmed the deficit to 5-3 early in the second before the Bullets pulled away late for the win.
The Eagles are led by junior Mackenzie Maguire, who has 73 points on 37 goals and 36 assists. Julia Albert has 68 points on a team-high 46 goals and 22 assists. Senior Holly Hudson is the third Eagle with 60-plus points, on 40 goals and 21 assists.
Junior All-American goalie Hanna Ashby has returned from injury that kept her out of UMW's first 12 games, including the Gettysburg contest, to return to form and post a 9.51 goals-against average with 69 saves in nine contests.
Gettysburg is led by Katie Landry's 67 points (20 goals, 47 assists), followed by Steph Colson (61 points) and Katie Willis (60). Goalie Bailey Pilder has a sterling 5.48 GAA with 124 saves in 19 games.
UMW is making its third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, and has reached the regional semis for the second time in three years.