Waterville, Maine — The Colby College Women's Lacrosse team is headed back to the big dance. The NCAA announced its 47-team Division III Championship bracket Monday, and the Mules have officially secured an at-large berth for the tournament. This marks the fifth consecutive appearance for the Mules (15th overall), further cementing the program's status as a perennial DIII contender.

Colby will travel to Middletown, Connecticut, this Saturday, May 9th, for an opening-round clash against SUNY Cortland (14-4). This will be the fourth time that the Mules and Red Dragons have faced each other in the tournament (2010, 2011, 2014) with Cortland holding a 2-1 advantage and coming off a 2026 SUNYAC Championship. The pod is hosted by NESCAC foe Wesleyan, with the winner of Saturday's matchup advancing to face the Cardinals on Sunday.

The Mules enter the 2026 bracket with the momentum of a program that reached the Final Four just last spring. The 2025 campaign was a historic one for Mayflower Hill, ending in a heart-pounding 13-12 overtime thriller against Middlebury in the NCAA semifinals.  

Returning to the tournament the Mules feature a roster with significant postseason experience. Sophomore defender Gisele Uva, who famously forced that overtime in last year's semifinal, joins senior veteran Izzy Wang to lead an All-NESCAC defensive unit. They will be tasked with containing a high-powered Cortland offense that enters the weekend averaging 15 goals per game. 

Offensively, the Mules are led by senior playmaker Stella Regan, who paced the team with 36 points and a team-high 22 assists. Sophomore Charlotte Michener provided the primary finishing power, netting a team-best 24 goals including three game-winners. Another key offensive threat, Joselyn Silva finished second on the team with 20 goals, providing consistent pressure on the attack in just her first collegiate season.

In the midfield, Kristin Podgorni has been instrumental in securing possessions, leading the team with 56 draw controls to go along with 17 points. 

Saturday's game is set for a 1:00pm start. Fans can follow alongside the action using the live stats and live video links as well as check out the NCAA website including the tournament bracket for more information.