Saturday, April 19, 2025 will be a day always remembered in the annals of Ashland University women's lacrosse.
Because on Saturday, the Eagles clinched the program's first conference title in its seventh season of existence – doing so following a 12-11 Great Midwest Athletic Conference win at Findlay.
"We feel great. We are not done yet. It was a good team win," said Ashland head coach
Lauren Simko. "Our defense came up with the stops that mattered at the end of the game. It feels good accomplishing being the one seed."
Thanks to just their second win over the Oilers in 10 all-time matchups, the Eagles also will play host to the Great Midwest Tournament Final Four on May 1 and 3 at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field. Saturday's victory also gives AU its program-record 12
th win of 2025, as the Eagles conclude the regular season at 12-5 overall and 8-0 in the Great Midwest.
Ashland has won five games in a row and nine of the last 10 going into the conference tournament.
The Oilers are 7-10, 6-2.
Saturday's game featured no gap between the two teams larger than three goals – and Ashland had that lead four different times.
VETERANS STEPPING UP…AND THE REST OF THE STORY
- Junior goalkeeper Annie Duncan, despite missing the end of the second quarter due to injury, made a season-high-tying 11 saves on Saturday.
- "Annie played really, really well," Simko noted. "She was the difference-maker in the game."
- Becoming the first player in program history to score at least 100 points in a season (101), junior attacker Ashley Fisher picked up seven of those on Saturday (four goals, three assists).
- "Ashley had a fabulous game," said Simko. "When things are going wrong, she does a good job of controlling the attack."
- Ashland and Findlay were basically even in both shots (31-30 AU) and turnovers (Eagles 22, Oilers 21).
- In 10 seasons of Great Midwest women's lacrosse, Ashland's undefeated regular season in league play is the sixth in conference history.
