Women’s Lacrosse Punches Ticket to MIAA Tournament; First Time Since 2014

ADRIAN, Mich. – For the first time in over a decade, the Adrian College women’s lacrosse team is heading back to the MIAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have secured the No. 4 seed with an overall record of 11-5 and a 3-4 mark in MIAA play, earning them a home playoff game this Saturday at 3:00 PM against the No. 5 seed Albion College Britons.

Adrian punched their ticket to the postseason with a clutch, must-win performance over Kalamazoo College in their final regular-season game. Now, with momentum on their side, the Bulldogs are primed and ready for their first MIAA Tournament appearance since 2014.

Offensively, Adrian has been electric all season long, tallying 223 goals, tied for the most in the MIAA. The Bulldogs also lead the conference in assists (125), shooting percentage (.346), and women-down goals (14), showcasing their ability to execute at a high level in every situation.

Leading the charge is offensive powerhouse Madeline Turcotte, who tops the stat sheet in nearly every major category including goals, assists, points, shots, shots on goal, and draw controls. She’s been the heartbeat of the Bulldog offense. Right alongside her is Mariana Miller, who has racked up 42 goals and 21 assists for a total of 63 points. Together, they drive an offense that averages 14 goals per game, second-best in the MIAA. Abby Malone has been a star all season as well as the freshman standout has tallied 38 goals, 13 assists with 51 points. Malone has also been solid on defense with 20 caused turnovers.

On the defensive end, Mey Sun has been a standout force, leading the Bulldogs with 35 caused turnovers and collecting 27 ground balls. Adrian’s defense has been a consistent stronghold all season, allowing just 115 goals, only 62 of which were assisted. The Bulldogs have kept opponents in check, giving up only 18 shots per game, while their offense fires off an impressive 31. Anchoring the back line is Olivia Gedman, who has been a true wall on defense. Gedman has racked up 18 caused turnovers, consistently shutting down opposing attacks and providing a reliable presence in the defensive zone.

In the net, Bella Norton has been every defender’s best friend. Leading the MIAA with a stellar .468 save percentage and an impressive 7.41 goals-against average, Norton has been a rock in net all season long. With 99 saves on the year, she continues to be a game-changer for the Bulldogs. Expect another standout performance from Norton this Saturday.

“This has been an outstanding stretch for our team to close out the season with 3 straight conference wins and we are excited to host a MIAA tournament game as a top 4 seed”, said Head Coach Amanda Asher. “Since I became the coach last season, we have talked about having a goal of getting into the top 4 and I’m proud of this group for achieving that goal despite a tough start to conference play”. “I’m thrilled that our seniors will get to experience tournament play and have one more game at Docking Stadium. They have put in a ton of work over the years and have not quit even over the tough times”. “While we are proud of hitting our first goal, the job is not finished. We need to be motivated and hungry on Saturday against a tough opponent and we will be working hard this week!”

Be sure to keep an eye on these standout Bulldogs as Adrian gears up to face Albion College this Saturday in the opening round of the MIAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament. The winner will advance to Holland, Michigan, where they will take on Hope College on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 PM.