Denison Unanimous Preseason Favorite Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll

CLEVELAND, OH – Denison has been tabbed as the unanimous favorite for the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) women's lacrosse season, based on votes submitted by the league coaches.
 
Denison, in pursuit of its third-consecutive and league-leading 25th NCAC title, secured the top spot in the preseason coaches' poll with 64 points and all eight first-place votes. Wooster followed in second with 43 points, while John Carroll and Kenyon tied for third with 41 points apiece. DePauw and Ohio Wesleyan shared fifth with 37 points each, while Oberlin placed seventh with 17 points and Wittenberg completed the eight-team field with eight points.
 
The Big Red return five All-NCAC selections from 2025, led by senior midfielders Mary Martinson (Concord, NH/Concord), a first-team honoree, and Bridget Sheehy (Pawleys Island, SC/Westminster), a second-team selection. Martinson, the 2025 NCAC Midfielder of the Year, started all 21 games last season and finished second on the team with 53 goals and seven assists, while controlling the middle with a team-high 94 draw controls to go with 30 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers. Sheehy added the playmaking punch a season ago, posting 20 goals with a team-leading 35 assists, while contributing 31 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, and 58 draw controls.
 
On the defensive end, junior second-team goalkeeper Julianne Henigan (South Orange, NJ/Columbia) anchored Denison in all 21 starts, registering 146 saves and a .477 save percentage while adding 33 ground balls and 13 wins in goal. The Big Red also bring back two third-team all-conference performers in senior midfielder Grayson O'Marra (Bethesda, MD/Bethesda Chevy Chase), who totaled 16 goals and 15 assists with 30 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, and 22 draw controls, and junior defender Grace Schlossberg (Baltimore, MD/St. Paul's School for Girls), who produced 20 ground balls with a team-best 23 caused turnovers.
 
The 2026 season begins on February 14, with conference play opening April 3 as Wooster hosts Denison, followed by three league matchups on April 4: DePauw at John Carroll, Wittenberg at Oberlin, and Ohio Wesleyan at Kenyon. The 2026 NCAC Tournament begins with semifinals on Wednesday, April 29, with the tournament final slated for Saturday, May 2.
 
2026 North Coast Athletic Conference
Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
Place Institution (1st Place Votes) Total Points
1 Denison (8) 64
2 Wooster 43
3 John Carroll 41
3 Kenyon 41
5 DePauw 37
5 Ohio Wesleyan 37
7 Oberlin 17
8 Wittenberg 8
 
 

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