In a season full of firsts, Ashland University's women's lacrosse team earned another one on Thursday (May 1) afternoon, defeating Thomas More, 21-7, at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field to move into a conference tournament championship game for the first time in program history.
The Eagles (13-5) will play Findlay (9-10) in the 2025 Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday (May 3) at 4 p.m. at the football stadium, looking for their initial conference tourney title.
"It feels like we earned the right to play in the game on Saturday," said Ashland head coach
Lauren Simko. "They've had that game circled on their calendar since the first practice of the year, and finally, all their hard work has paid off.
"We're confident. We earned the right to play here. We talk about we play our best when we're having fun."
Thomas More's season ends at 5-14.
Ashland's football-type final score at the Eagle football field came courtesy of nine different goal scorers and a defense which kept the Saints to two goals or less in each quarter.
"It was on today. It took us a little while to find our bearings," said Simko of the AU offense. "You have to have a lot of trust in your teammates, and that trust has been built this year."
Said junior goalkeeper
Annie Duncan, who made three saves in the victory, "The communication has been really good. They're really good at talking when the ball is going across-crease. I think we were a little silent at first.
"I'm excited. I never got to do it at my last school (play for a conference title), so it will be really cool here."
"That defense is rock-solid," Simko said. "They're also a strong, cohesive group that have worked really hard this year."
A SHOTS ONSLAUGHT…AND THE REST OF THE STORY
- The Eagles out-shot the Saints 43-12 on Thursday, and forced 22 Thomas More turnovers.
- Junior attacker Ashley Fisher once again paced the Eagle attack with six points on four goals and two assists. Another junior attacker, Rachel Crumbacher, finished with five points on three goals and two assists.
- Ashland earned 24 of the game's 31 draw controls.
- Thursday marked the eighth time AU has scored at least 20 goals in a game in 2025.
- Ashland's 13th victory extends the program's single-season wins record set this season.
