A historic season came to an end after the America East championship game. The University of Vermont women’s lacrosse team’s quest for its second conference title fell short against the University of Albany in a 13-11 defeat. The America East regular season champions finish 2026 with a 10-7 overall record and claimed their first-ever No. 1 seed in program history. “There was a reason that we were hosting, and we were the number one seed,” said Vermont women’s lacrosse head coach Sarah Dalton Graddock. “There was so much that we did when it came to conference play. I think it’s just tough when a season has to end like this, but there’s just so much to be proud of.”The Great Danes claimed their second straight America East title and fifth in program history after a 5-0 run stretching from the tail end of the third quarter to the fourth quarter.”It means so much,” said Albany junior midfielder Paisley Cook. “I’m just so proud of this team. We’ve gone through so much adversity, and it just shows how much heart we have for this game and for the sport and for everyone around.” Dalton Graddock emphasized that a limited number of possession time from Albany winning draw control battles down the stretch limited the number of chances Vermont could generate down the stretch. “We just never really had the ball,” Dalton Graddock said. “(Albany) just had phenomenal draw control. Unfortunately, when you don’t have the ball, it’s really hard to score. Credit to Albany for capitalizing on us there.”Jane Trauger performed admirably for the Catamounts during the America East championship. She led her team in scoring, finishing with four goals. Lindsay Lefebvre, who was selected on the America East all-tournament team, also tallied two goals alongside Lydia Doraz’s two goals for the Vermont offense. Lefebvre joined Maddie Erskine as the two Catamounts to end their college careers with all-tournament team honors. Erskine scored Vermont’s two go-ahead goals, which gave them the lead and the eventual win against the University of Baltimore Maryland County in the America East semifinals. “Lindsay (Lefebvre) was an incredible captain for us,” Dalton Graddock said. “Just works the hardest, she just leads by example, she has phenomenal connections with everybody on our team and our team really looks up to her,””I thought Maddie (Erskine) was just phenomenal this tournament,” Dalton Graddock added. “She’s been playing through an injury that nobody plays through, and so to get us those goals she gave us against UMBC, she was such a great option out there, and there’s a reason that she took a fifth year here.”Cook, a native of Akwesasne, New York, led the Great Dane offense with a team-high four goals while also dishing out three assists, leading to a game-high seven points. Cook was also recognized as the America East tournament MVP, sharing that her teammates and Albany were a key piece to her receiving the championship’s top honor. Cook was also the America East midfielder of the year. “I couldn’t do it without my team,” Cook said. “They pushed me every single day, and this reflects how much effort we put into practice and in games. I’m just so thankful to be a part of this team.”Cook also credits her playing days back in her hometown as key to her success during her junior season with Albany. She was a three-time Section II girls’ lacrosse champion in 2019, 2020 and 2021 with Salmon River High School. “The passion for my game grew at home,” she said. “We always talk about Every Child Matters surrounding all the movements from being indigenous, and it’s just so important to keep your knowledge and history going, each step in the way. I’m grateful to be playing the sport I’ve played each year.” Mya Carroll also chipped in for the Albany offense with three goals and two assists, leading to five points. Jaedyn Frink and Kloey Roos also tallied two goals apiece. Vermont will return several key players to try to run it back for an America East title in 2027. Trauger is expected to take a 5th year of eligibility after an America East first-team all-star season. She joins fellow first teamers Lydia Doraz and Ayla Shea and America East second teamers Kiera Larney and Sabine Goodwin as returners for next year’s squad.
A historic season came to an end after the America East championship game.
The University of Vermont women’s lacrosse team’s quest for its second conference title fell short against the University of Albany in a 13-11 defeat. The America East regular season champions finish 2026 with a 10-7 overall record and claimed their first-ever No. 1 seed in program history.
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“There was a reason that we were hosting, and we were the number one seed,” said Vermont women’s lacrosse head coach Sarah Dalton Graddock. “There was so much that we did when it came to conference play. I think it’s just tough when a season has to end like this, but there’s just so much to be proud of.”
The Great Danes claimed their second straight America East title and fifth in program history after a 5-0 run stretching from the tail end of the third quarter to the fourth quarter.
“It means so much,” said Albany junior midfielder Paisley Cook. “I’m just so proud of this team. We’ve gone through so much adversity, and it just shows how much heart we have for this game and for the sport and for everyone around.”
Dalton Graddock emphasized that a limited number of possession time from Albany winning draw control battles down the stretch limited the number of chances Vermont could generate down the stretch.
“We just never really had the ball,” Dalton Graddock said. “(Albany) just had phenomenal draw control. Unfortunately, when you don’t have the ball, it’s really hard to score. Credit to Albany for capitalizing on us there.”
Jane Trauger performed admirably for the Catamounts during the America East championship. She led her team in scoring, finishing with four goals. Lindsay Lefebvre, who was selected on the America East all-tournament team, also tallied two goals alongside Lydia Doraz’s two goals for the Vermont offense.
Lefebvre joined Maddie Erskine as the two Catamounts to end their college careers with all-tournament team honors. Erskine scored Vermont’s two go-ahead goals, which gave them the lead and the eventual win against the University of Baltimore Maryland County in the America East semifinals.
“Lindsay (Lefebvre) was an incredible captain for us,” Dalton Graddock said. “Just works the hardest, she just leads by example, she has phenomenal connections with everybody on our team and our team really looks up to her,”
“I thought Maddie (Erskine) was just phenomenal this tournament,” Dalton Graddock added. “She’s been playing through an injury that nobody plays through, and so to get us those goals she gave us against UMBC, she was such a great option out there, and there’s a reason that she took a fifth year here.”
Cook, a native of Akwesasne, New York, led the Great Dane offense with a team-high four goals while also dishing out three assists, leading to a game-high seven points. Cook was also recognized as the America East tournament MVP, sharing that her teammates and Albany were a key piece to her receiving the championship’s top honor. Cook was also the America East midfielder of the year.
“I couldn’t do it without my team,” Cook said. “They pushed me every single day, and this reflects how much effort we put into practice and in games. I’m just so thankful to be a part of this team.”
Cook also credits her playing days back in her hometown as key to her success during her junior season with Albany. She was a three-time Section II girls’ lacrosse champion in 2019, 2020 and 2021 with Salmon River High School.
“The passion for my game grew at home,” she said. “We always talk about Every Child Matters surrounding all the movements from being indigenous, and it’s just so important to keep your knowledge and history going, each step in the way. I’m grateful to be playing the sport I’ve played each year.”
Mya Carroll also chipped in for the Albany offense with three goals and two assists, leading to five points. Jaedyn Frink and Kloey Roos also tallied two goals apiece.
Vermont will return several key players to try to run it back for an America East title in 2027. Trauger is expected to take a 5th year of eligibility after an America East first-team all-star season. She joins fellow first teamers Lydia Doraz and Ayla Shea and America East second teamers Kiera Larney and Sabine Goodwin as returners for next year’s squad.
