BANGOR, Maine – The Husson University women's lacrosse team will face No. 13 William Smith College in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament, as the bracket was announced on Monday afternoon.

Husson and William Smith will battle on Saturday afternoon on the campus of No. 11 Amherst College with the winner taking on the Mammoths in the second round the next day.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: 
Husson (7-7) won its first-ever North Atlantic Conference Championship this past weekend in dramatic fashion over Maine Maritime Academy, defeating the Mariners 12-11.

William Smith (12-4) earned an at-large bid into the 2025 field, after it fell in the Liberty League semifinals to Union College, securing its ninth-straight trip to the national tournament and its 25th overall.

SERIES HISTORY:
This will be the first-ever meeting between William Smith and Husson in women's lacrosse.

COACHING MATCHUP:
Amanda Deshaies leads the Eagles to their first NCAA tournament appearance in her third season roaming the sidelines, posting a 24-20 record in her first 44 games at the helm, including a 15-4 mark in NAC games.

In her nine seasons with the Herons, Anne Phillips has won 148 games and has led William Smith to the NCAA semifinals in the last two seasons. Prior to her career with the Herons, Phillips also served as the head coach of the Yale women's lacrosse program for seven years and is 16 wins shy of 300 for her career.

BEHIND THE STATS:
Husson is paced by the trio of junior Averi Baker, senior Natalie Whitten and freshman Kate Boehmcke, who have combined for 90 of Husson's 177 goals on the year.

Baker leads the team with 35 goals on the year, in addition to 18 assists in her third season with the Eagles, while ranking fifth in the conference in goals per game and fourth in assists per game. Baker has been named an all-conference selection in her first two years with the team and has posted seven hat tricks so far this year and is currently tied for the most-career goals in program history with 130.

Whitten, the all-time assist leader for Husson, has put together another all-around great year, recording totals of 23 goals and a team-high 25 assists, in addition to ranking third in the conference in assists per game and second in total assists this season. Whitten has earned all-conference honors two prior times in her career and is currently third all-time in program history for most total points.

Boehmcke has been stellar in her first year in the green and gold, totaling 32 goals and 14 assists in her freshman campaign, while placing fourth in the conference in points per game. The four-time NAC rookie of the week has recorded six hat tricks in her first year with the team.

As a team, Husson leads the North Atlantic Conference in ground balls (306) and caused turnovers (149), while ranking second in the league in goals (177), draw controls (191), successful clear attempts (192), goals per game (12.64), assists per game (6.71), points per game (19.36), shots per game (29.21) and shots on goal per game (21.36).

William Smith currently has five players with 25 or more goals on the year, including Katherine Murray with 46.

Kira Fulton, Mia Falco, Natalie Daniels and Taryn Luzi have been lethal alongside Murray on the offensive end for the Herons, who have outscored their opponents 209-115 on the year.

William Smith leads the Liberty League in fewest goals allowed (115), scoring margin (5.9), save percentage (51.1%) and fewest turnovers (209). The Herons have played four ranked opponents so far this year, including a 17-5 win over No. 18/No. 17 Ithaca College on Apr. 9.

WITH A WIN…
With a victory on Saturday, the Eagles will secure their first-ever win in the NCAA tournament.