MEDFORD, MA (February 26, 2026) – The Tufts University women's lacrosse team is coming off one of its best seasons in program history, appearing in the NCAA title game for the third time while earning the third New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title in program history.
The 2025 team had a very experienced group that had played in big games year after year, but as we transition to 2026 the Jumbos women's lacrosse group will have a different look. Tufts graduated 14 players from last year's NCAA finalist team, including all-time goal scoring leader
Margie Carden and Division III Midfielder of the Year
Madeline Delaney.
There is no doubt that those losses will take some time to adjust to, but the 2026 version of the Jumbos still return a lot from a team that went 21-2 last season with both of their losses coming by just one goal. With different personnel comes different team dynamics, but head coach
Courtney Shute and her staff are excited about how the team has looked in preseason.
"This team has a lot of more unknown than we've had in recent years in terms of a personnel standpoint, but we're starting to find the connections and the strengths of this team," said Shute. "We're trying to tweak some things within the systems that are core to our program to fit this group, and there's been a lot of learning and teaching."
With the departure of so many players, it has created an opportunity for some of the younger players throughout the team to become more vocal leaders. That leadership chasm has seen people step up this year so far, helping with a larger younger group.
"The upper classmen have done a great job taking the first-years under their wing, making a big effort to empower each other through voice and empowering everyone to be comfortable to be collaborative to reload the program for this year and be excited about the differences coming into the season."
The one area that will look significantly different is on attack, as Tufts graduated six of its top seven scorers from last year, but the Jumbos do return senior All-American
Allie Zorn to help lead the way. But with the turnover, Shute acknowledged that some people are going to need to step up and she is excited to see who that might be. "We also have some exciting additions in the newcomer group as well," said Shute.
Shute went on to talk about how excited she was for the depth in the midfield, and how balanced the group is. The group could go seven or eight deep, led by seniors
Elsa Schutt and
Kate Deehan.
"I love the balance that this group brings, and the hunger that they all play with," said Shute. "Elsa, Kate, Marlo, Grace, Neta have all had a great preseason. We are lucky to be able to go a lot of different ways there."
The Jumbos will also be looking for a new starting goalkeeper this year, as two-year starter
Pascale de Buren has moved on after having a stellar senior campaign. Tufts returns two keepers that played limited time, and brought another into the fold this season but Shute says that there is confidence in whoever is between the pipes.
"It's been a battle, all of three goalkeepers are very strong," said Shute.
The defensive unit will look a little different, but senior Nicole Donlan will take on the leader role after starting 23 games as a junior as season ago. "Nico has taken that role very seriously, and has played a lot to where she understands the level we've played at and bringing everyone along even in the fall."
Despite all the changes, Shute said that the discovery of what this team can be has been the focus, more than comparing the team to past seasons. "Finding out day by day what this group can be and then seeing them improve each day has been great. The newness and unknown is becoming more known. They are definitely ready to compete, and I am really excited about what they are capable of."
A position-by-position breakdown is below:
ATTACK
The Jumbos are coming off a season that saw them score 384 goals as a team, outscoring opponents 384-167 on the season while the Jumbos tallied as many assists as goals allowed in 2025.
Tufts returns aforementioned
Allie Zorn to the group as the dynamic attack tallied 62 goals and set up another 26 for a team-high 88 points as a junior. She netted four game-winning goals for the Jumbos, and had at least two goals in all but two games last season.
She will help mentor a group that will have a new look, as junior
Sophia Claps is ready to make a bigger impact. Claps played in 21 games last season, scoring 21 goals while taking 56 shots on goal. Her shooting percentage has ticked up throughout her career, so if that continues with more chances, she could be in for a big season.
Junior
Schuyler Lloyd could be moved around on attack and in the midfield as well, as she was a key cog for Tufts as she played in all 23 games last year, netting 17 goals while adding 23 draw controls and 12 ground balls.
Sophomore
Anna Mollahan got into just 10 games during her first season, but scored five times on just nine shots and looked capable of a larger role this season. Sophomore Esme scored a pair of goals as a first-year in seven games of action, and senior
Sadie Dodson had three points in six games despite some injuries throughout the season.
The coaching staff is also excited about the newcomer group, as Tufts has three first-year attacking players in
Amelia Sousa,
Eleanor Helm and
Sonja Keneally who will be looking to make their mark. Helm comes into the team having already played huge games in the fall, helping lead the Tufts field hockey team to a national crown.
MIDFIELD
Tufts will be without the services of two graduated All-Americans in
Madeline Delaney and
Emma Joyce, but this is a group that already had to learn to deal with loss as now senior
Kate Deehan missed all of last season due to injury.
Schutt had a stellar junior campaign, earning Preseason All-American honors coming into her senior season after starting all but one game in 2025. The lefty scored 22 goals and added 27 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers and 45 draw controls.
Deehan is back and ready to get back to her pervious form that saw her earn All-Region honors as a sophomore, as a steady, responsible, and consistent midfield two-way player. Lloyd was a solid performer in the midfield last season, and classmate
Grace Hammond had a big role last season as well as she netted 12 goals and picked up 19 draw controls.
Sophomore
Neta Leschly played in 21 games for the Jumbos last season, and had no trouble adjusting to the game especially defensively where she finished with 16 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. The shooting stats also say Leschly was a little unlucky as well last year, so a big increase in scoring this season could be on the way.
Sophomore
Ava Olender has had a good sophomore fall and spring so far, and her ability on the draw will be useful after the graduation of
Genna Gibbons. The midfield group will also be aided by six newcomers in first-years
Megan Magee,
Aynalie Charron,
Elsa Blodgett and
Marlo Stuart along with sophomore
Reese Reckles.
DEFENSE
The Jumbos will look to replace four of their top five defenders off of last year's team, but
Nicola Donlan had another strong season for the Jumbos as a full-time starter. Donlan finished the season with 18 caused turnovers, tied for third on the team, and added 21 ground balls.
Junior
Emily Leschin has played important minutes for the Jumbos over her career, and had another solid campaign as a sophomore with 15 ground balls and three caused turnovers. Sophomore
Annie Bergeron has switched to low defense this season, taking over the coveted "99" jersey from All-American
Kathryn Fernandopulle. Bergeron caused four turnovers last season, and could be in for a big season.
The defensive group also returns some veteran presence in senior
Annie Aspesi, who is coming off a successful basketball season. Juniors
Kathryn Wilson and
Cate Anderson also have each had opportunities for the Jumbos over the last few seasons, and the group also adds a stellar incoming class in first-years
Mia Sommer,
Sophie Haas and
Kate Kieran.
GOALKEEPING
The Jumbos saw
Pascale de Buren start all 23 games a season ago, allowing just 7.46 goals per game while stopping 50.5 percent of shots on cage in 2025. She played all but 180 of the 1366 minutes in goal last year, but the Jumbos do have a strong group of netminders to tend to.
Sophomore
Devon Chipman played eight games as a first-year last season, making 15 saves while posting a 60 percent save clip.
Sophie Powless appeared in six games as well as a sophomore, making six stops as well.
The team is also excited about
Charlotte McDonald, who had a solid prep career at St. George's School and will look to press for time as well at the position.
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The Jumbos will start their campaign on Saturday, February 28 at 1 p.m. on the road, taking on No. 3 Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
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