GRANVILLE, OH - Denison (15-4) women’s lacrosse claimed a 23-4 victory over Lake Forest (15-5) in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.
The Big Red now advance into the third round for the seventh-consecutive season and will take on the second-round winner between Franklin & Marshall and Messiah on Saturday, May 17. The time and location of the third-round matchup will be released once all second-round matches are complete.
DENISON 23, LAKE FOREST 4
- Denison women’s lacrosse wasted no time in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday, scoring nine first-quarter goals and never looking back in a 23-4 win over Lake Forest.
- The Big Red opened the game with relentless energy, netting the first nine goals of the contest. Senior Anna DeVuono (Devon, PA/Conestoga) recorded a hat trick in the first quarter alone, including a pair of free-position goals, while goals from juniors Bridget Sheehy (Pawleys Island, SC/Westminster), Grayson O’Marra (Bethesda, MD/Bethesda Chevy Chase), and Mary Martinson (Concord, NH/Concord) fueled the opening surge. Denison’s defense suffocated Lake Forest early, forcing multiple failed clears and turnovers.
- Denison continued to roll in the second quarter, outscoring the Foresters 7-0 during the frame. Senior Caroline Brooks (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) and Martinson each converted free-position opportunities, while junior Jamie Epstein (Marietta, GA/Walton), sophomore Addie Clift (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac), and first-year Anie Savarese (Wilton, CT/Wilton) added to the growing lead. By halftime, Denison held a commanding 16-1 advantage.
- The scoring kept coming in the third, with five more goals from five different players, including first-year MK Barnhart (Rehoboth Beach, DE/The Hill School), O’Marra, Martinson, Sheehy, and Clift. Assists from sophomore Lizzie Israel (Alexandria, VA/St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes) and Brooks kept the Big Red offense balanced and fluid, while Denison’s defense forced numerous failed clears.
- Lake Forest found the back of the net three times in the fourth quarter, but Denison maintained control, tacking on goals from first-years Emersen Thompson (Owings Mills, MD/Garrison Forest), Josie Pruss (Chatham Township, NJ/Chatham), and Tessa Espinosa (San Francisco, CA/Sacred Heart).
- DeVuono led all scorers with four goals, while Martinson, Sheehy, and Thompson added multiple goals each. The Big Red controlled possession throughout, dominating the draw circle and capitalizing on extra-player opportunities. Defensively, Denison limited Lake Forest to just one goal through the first 45 minutes.
- With the win, Denison advances to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, improving to 15-4 on the season.