Eagle Women Picked To Repeat As Great Midwest Lacrosse Champs

After Ashland University's women's lacrosse team won its first Great Midwest Athletic Conference championships in 2025, league head coaches are predicting a repeat in 2026.
 
The Great Midwest released its 2026 women's lacrosse preseason coaches poll on Wednesday (Jan. 28) afternoon, and the Eagles have been selected to win the conference title for a second year in a row.
 
Ashland received seven first-place votes and 71 voting points, with Findlay slotted second (two first-place votes and 66 voting points) and Walsh third (58 voting points).
 
Led by reigning G-MAC Coach of the Year Lauren Simko, all of the Eagles' all-conference players from 2025 return this spring:

• Sophomore midfielder Tori Wanat (Freshman of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, first team).
• Senior attacker Ashley Fisher (Attacker of the Year, first team).
• Senior goalkeeper Annie Duncan (Goalkeeper of the Year, first team).
• Junior attacker Ashley Drexler (Elite 26 Award, second team).
• Senior attacker Rachel Crumbacher (first team).
• Senior defender Lauren Hinders (first team).
• Senior defender Lily Holmes (second team).

Ashland women's lacrosse's 2025 season featured a 14-6 overall record (most wins in a season in program history), Great Midwest regular-season and tournament championships (firsts for both for the program), and the team's first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
The Eagles will open 2026 at Ferguson Field on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. vs. Charleston.
  1. ASHLAND UNIVERSITY (7 first-place votes) - 71
2. Findlay (2) - 66
3. Walsh - 58
4. Thomas More - 52
5. Tiffin - 46
6. Malone - 40
7. Lake Erie - 28
8. Northwood - 27
9. Ursuline - 17