MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A career game from
Bridget Horst '26 and a sensational defensive display headlined by a 12-save outing from
Izzy Weintraub '26 proved more than enough for the No. 2 Wesleyan women's lacrosse team in a 14-7 win over No. 21 UChicago on Saturday in the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals (17-3) advance to the NCAA Quarterfinal round where they will play host to No. 10 Trinity on Sunday at 2 PM with a spot in the Final Four on the line.
Facing a UChicago team that had only played once since April 24, the Cardinals jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back, opening up a double-digit lead in the second half before closing out the lobsided win. This marks the second straight NCAA Quarterfinal appearance for Wesleyan and the third trip in team history.
Taking advantage of a player-up opportunity in the opening minute, Horst drove to her left through the Maroons' defense before shooting to the top right corner for the opening goal just 43 seconds into play. Weintraub denied Peyton McGuire just over 30 seconds later and
Addie Cummings '26 made something happen on an isolation play, driving to her right before spinning back and beating Lily Brill low to make it 2-0 Cardinals.
Avery Song hit the post for the Maroons while Kelly Callaghan was denied on a free position shot and the Cardinals took full advantage with Horst again driving left to score her second of the game. Securing the ensuing draw control, Wesleyan worked the ball to
Becca Dibble '26 who fed
Elle Priesing '26 at the near post who took a quick shot that hit the back of the net and Wesleyan held a 4-0 lead at the end of the first.
Cummings made it 5-0 Wesleyan as she took a pass from Horst and walked a few steps before burying a player-up goal into the top left corner of the cage. The Maroons got on the board with a free position goal from Wynne Boggan but
Lindsey Diomede '26 forced a turnover quickly off the draw control and Horst drew a defender and passed off to Priesing in transition who tucked in her second of the game.
Just over two minutes later, Cummings passed to
Caroline Cervini '27 right in front for a goal that made it 7-1 Wesleyan. Horst then worked some magic once again, spinning to her left before finding the back of the net as Wesleyan led 8-1 before the Maroons scored right before the half to make it 8-2 Cardinals at the break.
Wesleyan put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring UChicago 5-2 to take a nine-goal lead into the fourth. Horst scored in transition, using her speed to blow past her defender to score just 39 seconds into the second half. A three-goal scoring spree for Wesleyan put the game out of reach, as Priesing, Cummings, and
Dylan Green '26 each scored to make it a nine-goal game.
Dibble walked into a goal early in the fourth to make it 14-4 Wesleyan before the Maroons finished the game with a 3-0 run to send Wesleyan in the Quarterfinal round with a 14-7 win.
Horst came through with a career game for Wesleyan, finishing with five goals and two assists for a career-high seven points while this marked the first career hat trick for the senior midfielder. Horst matched the single-game team record for most goals and most points in a NCAA Tournament game for the Cardinals.
Weintraub came up big all throughout the contest, finishing with 12 saves (six in each half) to match her career-high. Cummings had three goals and one assist while Priesing netted a hat trick and Dibble had one goal and two assists.
Diomede and
Molly Simon '26 each finished with four caused turnovers while Simon added three ground balls.
Lilly Stoller '26 added three caused turnovers and two ground balls to her totals.
Next up for Wesleyan is a Quarterfinal match against No. 10 Trinity. The two NESCAC foes met just once this season, with Wesleyan securing a 11-6 win over the Bantams at home on April 8.
