Save for Middlebury’s win in 2016, five of the past six Division III women’s NCAA tournaments have been won by teams outside of New England. Most prominent during that stretch? Gettysburg and Salisbury with two crowns each.
That patterns speaks to a broader trend in D-III lacrosse, one that’s also drawn some of New England’s top talent outside the region.
From that, New England Lacrosse Journal has highlighted 10 local players outside the region to watch for this spring. They all grew up in Connecticut, Massachusetts or New Hampshire, but now star at schools beyond the six states we call home.
The below group is listed in alphabetical order. While many of New England’s top players gravitate to the NESCAC, many look elsewhere, too.
Ellie Armstrong
Roanoke | A | Soph. | Wilton, Conn.
Armstrong wasted no time adjusting to college lacrosse, as she posted 59 points (47 goals, 12 assists) for Roanoke en route to Second Team All-ODAC honors. The Maroons failed to make the postseason, but Armstrong has set the stage for a prosperous college career.
Erika Bloes
Dickinson | A | Soph. | Riverside, Conn.
Bloes broke the Dickinson record for goals (46 goals) and points (57) by a first-year, an accomplishment sparked by recording a hat trick in her first collegiate game. For her efforts, Bloes was named Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year, only for the Red Devils to fall to Franklin & Marshall in the conference semifinals.
Tori Bruce
Stevens | D | Soph. | Wilmington, Mass.
Bruce’s impact at Stevens was immediate, as her freshman season concluded with co-leading the team in ground balls (34), being second in caused turnovers (23) and third in draw controls (27). Her role proved massive as the Ducks earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, losing at Bowdoin in the second round.
Cecily Docktor
Washington | A | Sr. | Wellesley, Mass.
Docktor’s point production has improved with each passing season, peaking with 68 (41 goals, 27 assists) as a junior. That made Doctor an All-Centennial Conference First Team member. The former Wellesley (Mass.) High School star is a co-captain for the Shorewomen this spring.
Abigail Hancock
Washington & Lee | D | Soph. | Darien, Conn.
Hancock started 19 of 21 games this past spring for the Generals, who yet again won the ODAC championship, falling this go-around in the NCAA tournament’s second round to York. Hancock recorded an impressive 23 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers as a freshman.
Jules Kennedy
William Smith | GK | Soph. | Winthrop, Mass.
Kennedy, a former Independent School League MVP at Buckingham Browne & Nichols (Mass.), seized the Herons’ starting job as a first-year. She placed on the All-Liberty League Second Team as William Smith fell to The College of New Jersey in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Kieley Noonan
Denison | A | Jr. | Wellesley, Mass.
Noonan has received All-NCAC honors each of her first two years at Denison, including a first team nod in 2018. Last year, she led the Big Red in goals (74), assists (28) and points (102) as they fell to Salisbury in the NCAA tournament’s third round.
Bailey Pilder
Gettysburg | GK | Sr. | Rowayton, Conn.
The Bullets won their second straight national title last year, with Pilder emerging as their go-to starter in goal. She earned a spot on the All-Centennial Conference First Team, courtesy of a 5.99 goals against average and .608 save percentage.
Elizabeth Rice
Ithaca | A | Sr. | Portsmouth, N.H.
Rice was a First Team All-Liberty League and All-Empire Region First Team attacker in 2018. She led the Bombers in goals (67) and was second-most in points (82). It was truly a breakout season for Rice, whose previous season high in points was seven.
Katharine Yenke
Franklin & Marshall | D | Jr. | Sudbury, Mass.
After a reserve role as a freshman, Yenke burst onto the scene in 2018, starting 20 of 23 games for the Diplomats. The former Lincoln-Sudbury Regional (Mass.) High School star played a big role as the Centennial Conference runner-ups lost in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
