No. 20 Ephs' Fantastic NCAA Run Ends in 16-10 Elite Eight Loss at No. 4 Tufts

MEDFORD, Mass. - After qualifying for the NCAA Division III Tournament for the seventh time in program history and winning three consecutive games on the national stage, the No. 20-ranked Williams College women's lacrosse team saw its outstanding 2026 season come to an end during a 16-10 setback in the Elite Eight to host and No. 4 Tufts Sunday on Bello Field.

The Ephs (12-8, 5-5 NESCAC) qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 and were making their fourth all-time appearance in the Elite Eight. Senior captain

Franny Donohue scored a hat trick for Williams, as she moved into first place in the program's record book with 96 points in a single season. Her single-season marks this year of 39 assists and 57 goals are second and tied for eighth, respectively, in program history. Her career total of 153 goals are the third most in program history, while she ranks fifth in career points (228) and tied for sixth in career assists (75).

Junior

Sydney Puntus registered one goal and two assists Sunday. Senior

Anna Miller (2 assists) and junior

Reece Willison (1 goal, 1 assist) also recorded multi-point efforts. Williams received at least one point from nine different student-athletes.

The Jumbos (17-3, 8-2 NESCAC) will compete against No. 1 Middlebury during the Final Four on Friday, May 22, at noon from RIT's Judson Stadium in Rochester, New York. The Final Four features three NESCAC teams, as No. 2 Wesleyan will square off against No. 3 Salisbury at 3 p.m. The winners will meet in the national championship game on Sunday, May 24. Eleanor Helm led the way for Tufts in the Elite Eight, as she finished with five goals and six assists for a total of 11 points.

The Jumbos led by five goals at four different times during the first three quarters, but the Ephs showcased tremendous resiliency. Williams embarked on a 4-1 surge, spanning between the third and fourth quarters, as a goal by junior

Ainsley Abel cut Tufts' lead to 12-10 with 7:48 left in regulation. Tufts scored the final four goals to seal the win, with the run featuring three assists by Allie Zorn and one goal and one assist from Helm.

The Ephs defeated four ranked opponents this season, with two coming in the regular season and the other pair happening in the NCAA Tournament. Williams defeated then-No. 3 Colby, 11-9, on March 7 in Waterville, Maine, as Donohue finished with three goals and two assists and first-year goalie

Savoy McMahon was fantastic in the fourth quarter, stopping all four shots and keeping the Mules off the scoreboard in the final 15 minutes.

Donohue tallied three goals and four assists and first-year

Ella Ryan scored a hat trick during a 12-10 victory at then-No. 15 University of Scranton on March 24, as the Ephs outscored the hosts, 5-2, in the fourth quarter.

During the 18-3 victory over Grove City in the NCAA First Round on May 9 in Geneva, New York, 15 Ephs tallied at least point. Donohue (2 goals, 2 assists), Ryan (3 goals, 1 assist), senior

Paige Nelson (2 goals, 1 assist), Miller (1 goal, 2 assists), senior

Katy McCullough (2 goals), Puntus (1 goal, 1 assist) and Willison (1 goal, 1 assist) recorded multi-point efforts.

In the 11-10 triumph against host and No. 5 William Smith on May 10 during second-round action, Williams scored five consecutive goals, spanning between the second and third quarters, to take a 9-5 advantage. Miller and Puntus scored fourth-quarter goals to hold of a late push by the Herons. Donohue (1 goal, 3 assists), McCullough (3 goals, 1 assist), Willison (2 goals, 1 assist) and Puntus (2 goals) led the charge.

Donohue (2 goals, 4 assists) and Puntus (3 goals, 2 assists) led the way in a 16-5 triumph over No. 25 Colorado College during the Sweet 16 on May 16. Nineteen different Ephs tallied at least one point during the 2026 season.