LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East has rolled out its Women’s Lacrosse preview for the 2024 season. The United East consists of five teams, with each program squaring off against one another in a 4-game conference season.
This year, all five teams will earn a bid to the postseason which begins on Saturday, April 27, 2024. The semi-finals will take place on Wednesday, May 1 with the winners advancing to the weekend’s final. The final will be hosted at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The winner of the final will be crowned United East Champion and earn the conference’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship.
Bryn Athyn College
Head Coach Ramona Walters begins her third season in charge of the Bryn Athyn College Women’s Lacrosse program in 2024. In 2023, the Lions had a perfect conference record, a championship and NCAA Tournament appearance as the program re-wrote the record books. Junior midfielder Shea Gormley returns after earning Player of the Year honors in 2023 and her second-straight First Team All-Conference honor with a 4.3 Goals per Game average and was second in the league with 53 total goals scored. In 2022, Gormley was named Rookie of the Year. Sophomore attacker Sabrina Brock was named Rookie of the Year and First Team honoree after finishing with 65 total points and leading the league in assists (32) in addition to 33 goals. The Lions open 2024 with a matchup at King’s on February 24th and have non-conference matchups with Gwynedd Mercy, Neumann, and Bryn Mawr College. United East play begins on March 23rd with a trip to St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Coach’s Outlook: “We have a lot of new faces on the team but it's business as usual and we're excited to get to work. The conference may look a little different, but the goal remains the same.”
Cedar Crest College
Head Coach Rylee Gould begins her 4th season as the Head Coach of Cedar Crest College’s women’s lacrosse program in 2024. A pair of juniors in Abi Sipel (Defense) and Maddie Graham (Midfield) lead the Falcons into a 2024 season with high hopes. Sipel was the 2023 CSAC Defensive Player of the Year and a 1st Team All-Conference honoree while accumulating 57 Ground Balls, 12 Draw Controls, and 33 Caused Turnovers. Graham was a 1st Team All-Conference while accumulating 80 goals, 89 points, and 71 Draw Controls over her first two seasons. Sophomore Kylah Demarest was an Honorable Mention selection after posting 14 goals and 11 assists in 12 Games Played during her first season. The Falcons have non-conference matchups with Delaware Valley, Purchase College and Neumann University before United East play begins on March 30th against St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Coach’s Outlook: “Should be our best season to date, the most exciting team I've had heading into my 4th season!”
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Kari-Lei Berry begins her fourth season as Head Coach for the Gators of Notre Dame of Maryland University with an experienced squad of multiple returning All-Conference performers. Junior Jade Stewart (Midfield) is quickly climbing the leaderboard in multiple program records after a 2023 season that saw her net 47 goals, 17 assists, won 87 draw controls, and caused 21 turnovers en route to a First Team All-Conference selection. Classmate Sarah Generoso partnered with Stewart for form a First Team All-Conference pairing in the midfield after scoring 36 goals, handing out 12 assists, won 73 draw controls, and collected 39 ground balls. Senior Averee Radonovich was another First Team honoree in 2023 after scoring 8 goals, 2 assists, forcing 20 turnovers, and collecting 29 ground balls from the defensive half of the field. The Gators open up 2024 with a match against Eastern University on February 28th before United East play begins with a matchup against Keystone on March 23rd.
Coach’s Outlook: “I am really excited about this year's team. We have five returning All-Conference players including three First Team Players that should provide excellent leadership for this team. We are adding several new faces to the team that should make an immediate impact and provide us with some needed depth.”
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Brittney Morris begins her third season as Head Coach of St. Mary’s College women’s lacrosse with an experienced team coming off of a United East Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023. Senior Rachael Freeman (Defense) returns after picking up United East Defensive Player of the Year and IWLCA Second Team All-Region while posting 53 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Junior Hailey Betch (Attack) was the United East Player of the Year and IWLCA Second Team All-Region after scoring 64 goals, 22 assists, and leading the team with 96 points. Betch is two goals away from the 100-goal career mark. Junior Colin Horton (Midfield) was a First Team honoree in 2023 after netting 55 goals, 10 assists and 51 draw controls. The Seahawks open up 2024 with a matchup against Roanoke College on February 17th before a non-conference rematch against NCAA opponent Messiah University on March 2nd. Also in the non-conference is an exhibition against the Scottish Women’s National Team on April 12th. United East play begins on March 23rd against Bryn Athyn College.
Coach’s Outlook: “We have drastically expanded our roster and have an incredibly talented group returning. We were very proud to represent our conference in the NCAA tournament but it left us wanting more. This season will be an exciting one to watch with our competitive regular season, and we look forward to pushing the level of success we can reach in the postseason.”
Wilson College
Avery Murphy begins her first season as Head Coach of Wilson College Women’s Lacrosse in 2024 with an experienced squad looking to continue the successes of the 2023 season. Senior midfielder Jill Ahlgren returns after tallying 92 points on 62 goals and 30 assists and a First Team All-Conference nod. Ahlgren was the statistical National Champion in Caused Turnovers per Game with 4.42 and was third overall nationally in picking up 6.29 ground balls per game. Senior attacker Anna Gibson returns after leading the CSAC with 32 assists and added 44 goals for a total of 76 points in 2023. Krystal Kienast in goal had a 6.54 goals against average which was 3rd nationally and a save percentage of 52.9% which was 13th in the country. The Phoenix open up 2024 with a matchup at Eastern University on February 17th and have non-conference games with La Roche, Goucher, Lycoming, Saint Vincent, and Eastern Mennonite. United East play begins on April 3rd when St. Mary’s College of Maryland visits Wilson.
Coach’s Outlook: “I want to build off of last year's season which was the most successful in program history with the most wins, and the highest winning percentage. We have many key returners that have grit, and talent which will continue to inspire the team throughout this season. Our captains Jill and Anna are exceptional leaders that have had a positive influence on everyone. I am very excited for this upcoming season, and the success we will have.”
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.