STANDISH, Maine – #1 Saint Joseph's College (15-3, 13-0 GNAC) will host #5 Colby-Sawyer College (14-4, 9-4 GNAC) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse tournament semifinal this evening at 7:00 PM.
GAME COVERAGE: LIVE STATS | VIDEO
The winner of the Monks/Chargers matchup will face the victor of the #2 Emmanuel/#3 Norwich semifinal on Saturday (time TBD). The higher seed will host throughout the tournament. The GNAC champion earns an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship, which begins Saturday, May 9.
2026 GNAC Women's Lacrosse Tournament Schedule
Quarterfinals – Saturday, April 25 (Hosted by higher seeds)
- #1 Saint Joseph's (Maine) def. #8 Rivier, 16-3
- #2 Emmanuel def. #7 New England College, 10-8
- #3 Norwich def. #6 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 13-12
- #5 Colby-Sawyer def. #4 Lasell, 12-8
Semifinals – Tuesday, April 28 (Hosted by remaining higher seeds)
- #1 Saint Joseph's (Maine) vs. #5 Colby-Sawyer - 7:00 PM
- #2 Emmanuel vs. #3 Norwich – 7:00 PM
Championship – Saturday, May 2 (Hosted by highest remaining seed)
Semifinal Winners – TBD
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Saint Joseph's advanced to the GNAC Semifinal round for the fifth consecutive season with a dominant 16-3 quarterfinal victory over #8 Rivier on Saturday. The top-seeded Monks took control immediately, scoring six unanswered goals in the opening quarter behind a natural hat trick from Celia Melanson and two early strikes from Taylor Dumond. Saint Joseph's stretched the lead to 10-0 by halftime and pushed the margin to 13-0 before Rivier broke through in the fourth.
The Monks controlled the game throughout, holding advantages in shots (36-14), shots on goal (18-5), ground balls (21-10), and draw controls (11-8), while forcing 27 turnovers. Ella Highbarger led the attack with five goals, while Melanson and Dumond scored four apiece.
Colby-Sawyer advanced to the GNAC Semifinal round with a 12-8 victory over #4 Lasell on Saturday, using a balanced attack and strong second-half push to secure the win. After a back-and-forth first half, Lauren Vignola scored three times to give the Chargers a 5-3 lead at the break. Lasell rallied to tie the game at 7-7 in the third quarter, but Colby-Sawyer responded with key goals from Rose Finlayson and Elena Bronson to regain control heading into the fourth.
The Chargers pulled away late, outscoring Lasell 5-1 over the final stretch. Finlayson led the way with five goals, while Vignola added four. Addison Glavin made seven saves in goal, and Colby-Sawyer generated 21 ground balls while forcing turnovers to close out the quarterfinal victory.
HOW THEY STACK UP*
Saint Joseph's entered postseason play as one of the top teams in the GNAC, leading the conference in goals (231), assists (138), goals per game (17.77), shots (498), shots on goal (379), ground balls (316), goals allowed (64), goals-against average (4.95), and save percentage (49.2%). The Monks also rank second in draw controls (196) and draw controls per game (15.08), while placing among the top three in shots on goal percentage (76.1%) and caused turnovers (195).
Colby-Sawyer enters postseason play as one of the GNAC's most efficient teams, ranking first in shots on goal percentage (81.1%), second in shooting percentage (48.8%), goals allowed (73), and goals-against average (5.63), and third in save percentage (47.9%). The Chargers also rank first in caused turnovers (209), fourth in shots on goal (309), fifth in assists (83), and sixth in goals (186), goals per game (14.31), shots (381), and ground balls (260).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The Saint Joseph's attack runs through senior Celia Melanson, who has posted team highs in assists (74) and points (94). Junior Taylor Dumond has supplied a team-leading 59 goals with 63 total points, while sophomore Ella Highbarger has added 58 goals and 68 points. Senior Sophia Burton (30 goals, 45 points) and sophomore Zoey Lailer (25 goals, 44 points) give the Monks additional scoring options.
Sophomore Ava Molineaux has been the Monks' top possession and defensive presence, leading the team in draw controls (86), ground balls (69), and caused turnovers (47). Highbarger has contributed 50 draw controls, 35 ground balls, and 31 caused turnovers, while Dumond has added 48 draw controls and 38 ground balls. On defense, senior Elle Hall owns 26 caused turnovers and 29 ground balls, senior captain Alexis Copp has contributed with 20 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers, and 14 draw controls, and freshman Kya Duprey has chipped in with 16 caused turnovers. Junior Julia Price (61 saves, 6.76 GAA) and senior Alexis Eldridge (47 saves, 7.18 GAA) have shared time in goal.
Colby-Sawyer's offense is powered by Lauren Vignola, who leads the Chargers with 68 goals and 74 points. Rose Finlayson has added 46 goals and 67 points, while Elena Bronson (29 goals, 31 assists) and Grace Joly (39 goals, 56 points) provide a balanced scoring and playmaking presence. Cecilia Ponzini (23 goals, 37 points) and Madeline Knight (26 goals) round out a deep and productive attack.
In the possession game, Finlayson leads the team with 73 draw controls, while Joly (42) and Bronson (36) also contribute. Ponzini has been a key all-around presence with 54 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers, while Brooke Farquhar has added 42 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers. Defensively, Luci Walden has a team-high 40 caused turnovers. In goal, Addison Glavin has handled the bulk of the minutes with 81 saves and a 6.62 GAA.
ON THE SIDELINES
Saint Joseph's: Lydia Dexter '23 (2nd season, 27-9, .750)
Colby-Sawyer: Emily Dewdney (7th season, 72-42, .632)
EARLIER THIS SEASON
March 25, 2026: Saint Joseph's def. Colby-Sawyer, 10-7 (New London, N.H.)
The Monks trailed 7-6 late in the third quarter before scoring the game's final four goals to defeat Colby-Sawyer on their home turf, 10-7. Ella Highbarger led the way with four goals and an assist, while Taylor Dumond scored twice — including her 100th career goal — and added six draw controls. Kiley Webber also netted two goals, Sophia Burton posted a goal and two assists, and Celia Melanson handed out three assists.
Saint Joseph's controlled possession and generated more chances, holding advantages in shots (30-18) and draw controls (15-4). Julia Price made seven saves in the victory, while the Monks held the Chargers scoreless for the final 23:56. For Colby-Sawyer, Grace Joly led the offense with three goals, while Elena Bronson contributed a goal and two assists and Lauren Vignola and Reese Holcomb each added a goal.
SERIES HISTORY
Saint Joseph's is 5-1 all-time versus Colby-Sawyer College and the March 25 victory avenges last season's 11-10 setback in Standish on April 2, 2025, which marked the Chargers' first win in the series.
*Versus GNAC opponents
