Lancaster, Pa. — The Denison women's lacrosse team's postseason run and season came to a close on Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Division III Elite Eight, as the Big Red fell 16–13 to No. 6 Gettysburg at Shadek Stadium in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Denison ends the season with a 16–5 record, while Gettysburg advances to the Final Four at 19–3.
The Big Red came out firing in a fast-paced first quarter. After falling behind 2–0, Denison surged back with five goals from five different players—Mary Martinson, Grayson O'Marra, Sophie Davenport, Maddie Chase, and MK Barnhart—to take a 5–4 lead. Gettysburg scored just before the horn to tie the game at 5–5 after one.
The Bullets took control in the second quarter with a four-goal stretch, helping Gettysburg build a 9–6 advantage. The Big Red battled back with goals from Chase and Martinson to close the gap to 9–8 heading into halftime.
Gettysburg pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Denison 6–2 in the frame. Capitalizing on multiple extra-player opportunities, the Bullets extended their lead to 15–9. Denison managed goals from Chase and Bridget Sheehy but struggled to slow the Gettysburg offense during the decisive stretch.
Denison mounted a late rally in the fourth, outscoring Gettysburg 3–1 behind goals from Sydney Lavin, Davenport, and Martinson's fourth of the afternoon. Despite the surge, the Big Red couldn't close the gap.
Martinson led all Denison scorers with four goals, while Chase netted a hat trick. Davenport contributed two goals, with Sheehy, O'Marra, Lavin, and Barnhart each scoring once.
In goal, Julianne Henigan played the majority of the game, recording eight saves while allowing 10 goals in 45:52 of action. First-year Kaylyn Kirrane came on in relief and tallied three saves against six goals in 14:08 of play.
Gettysburg outshot Denison 33–27, including a 25–16 edge in shots on goal. The Bullets also converted on all four of their man-up opportunities, while Denison was 1-for-1. The Big Red held the advantage in ground balls (13–10) and clears (14-for-16), and their goalkeeping duo combined for 11 saves.
Despite the loss, Denison caps the season as NCAC champions and NCAA Elite Eight qualifiers—the program's deepest postseason run since 2021. The Big Red remain firmly among the nation's elite and will return in 2026 with valuable experience and championship aspirations.
