STORRS, Conn.- It may not feel like it outside in Storrs, but spring sports have arrived at UConn, as lacrosse will kick off their 2025 season on Saturday, February 8th. The Huskies, predicted to finish second in the BIG EAST in the preseason poll, are looking to build on last year's success with a mix of veteran presence from returning players and grad transfers, as well as several newcomers that are looking to make their presence felt for the 2025 team.
2024 in Review
The Huskies finished 11-7 (5-1 BIG EAST) in 2024, defeating Georgetown in the semifinals of the conference tournament before falling to four-time defending conference champion Denver 16-14. UConn battled all the way back to tie the score at 14-14 after being down 9-1 early in the game before falling just short of the BIG EAST crown. The Pios were selected to win the conference again in 2025.
Catch You on the Flip!
Headed into 2025, UConn will look to fill key departures across the board. On the attack, the Huskies will lose a combined 90 goals from Kate Shaffer, who led the team with 48 and Susan Lafountain (42). Shaffer is now the director of operations with the program. In addition, UConn will look to replace the production from graduating seniors that include assist leader Abby Charron (28), and 2024 team captain Madelyn George, who led the team with 112 draw controls. The Huskies also lost star goalie Landyn White. In her UConn career, White was named BIG EAST Goalie of the Year three times, the only player to ever receive the award more than twice. White finished her Husky career with the most recorded saves in program history with 771.
Who's Back of the Year
In 2025, the Huskies welcome back three unanimous preseason all-BIG EAST selections. Senior defender Riley Daly comes into the season as the preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. In 2024, Daly was second on the team in ground balls (32) and caused turnovers (13). Daly and Eliza Bowman were named captains ahead of the 2025 season. Rayea Davis returns to the Huskies after notching 44 goals last season, offensive numbers that earned her a unanimous selection to the all- BIG EAST First Team and a preseason nod in '25. Following a standout all BIG-EAST campaign in her first collegiate season, Abby Beran rounds out the three Huskies on the preseason all-conference team. In 2024, Beran had 43 draw controls, 24 ground balls, and caused 23 turnovers.
New Kids on the Block
UConn will welcome in 10 first year players to Storrs in 2025, headlined by USA Lacrosse All-Americans Meg O'Brien (Morris Plains, NJ) and Anna Magennis (Ashland, Mass.) O'Brien notched the most assists in Morristown history (183), along with 203 goals, 115 forced turnovers, and 102 ground balls, with Magennis recording 321 points in her high school career. The Huskies will also be boosted by the additions of grad transfers Tori Cini, a goalkeeper from Holy Cross and defender Meghan Lane, who comes from Hamilton College as a 2024 IWLCA First Team All-American Division III Selection.
Leader of the Pack:
Katie Woods enters her 15th season as head coach at UConn in 2025. Woods' 137 wins and .582 win percentage at UConn are both the best in program history, as Woods looks to continue her reign as the most successful coach in UConn women's lacrosse history.
Woods has led the program to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths ('21, '22, '23) and posted a 12-7 season in 2023. Woods commanded the Huskies to two appearances in the BIG EAST Championship game against Denver ('21 & '24).
Throughout her time at UConn, Woods has been named BIG EAST Coach of the Year three times ('13, '15, '21), has coached 25 All- BIG EAST First Team Selections, 11 BIG EAST Players of the Year, 6 IWLCA Division I All-Americans, and 11 IWLCA All-Region First Team Selections.
Coach Woods was inducted into the CT Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2015 and will look to build on the program's success in 2025. On the coaching staff in 2025, Woods is joined by Associate Head Coach Katie Frederick for her fourth year with the Huskies. The coaching staff also adds Offensive Coordinator Madison Carter, and Shaffer, who returns to the team to be the director of lacrosse operations.
Hear from Head Coach Katie Woods:
"We have a lot of players in new roles so it will be exciting to see how they develop throughout the season. I think we're going to get better and better as the season goes on. We have some great tests early on that will challenge us, but the team is excited, and the game experience will be helpful for this group. I think this year is going to be interesting for a lot of teams across the board…. Our graduate transfers all bring in strong leadership qualities. Both veteran groups- our seniors and our graduate transfers will be leaned upon heavily to set the tone on and off the field. We have a great combination of the veterans and the underclassmen, with 10 freshmen and 9 sophomores. This big group of underclassmen all bring great energy, talent and work ethic to the team. With the COVID 5th year piece behind us, we have a lot of roles that need to be filled and I'm excited to see who steps up. Each day is a new day, and the team is working hard, competing, and pushing each other to get better. We have a good vibe right now and we're excited to see how things go this season."
Key Matchups
- Season Opener vs Drexel (2/8) in Storrs
- Rematch with James Madison at US Lacrosse Facility (2/15)
- In-state showdown with Yale (3/12)
- Conference opener @ Villanova (3/22)
- BIG EAST Championship rematch against defending champion Denver (4/6)
- Senior Day vs Georgetown (4/26)
- BIG EAST Championship in Villanova (5/2-5/4)
BIG EAST Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)
- Denver (5) 35 pts
- UConn (1) 31
- Villanova (1) 24
- Georgetown 22
- Marquette 18
- Butler 11
- Xavier 6
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Sr., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Riley Daly, UConn, Sr., D
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Abby Beran, UConn, So., D*
Riley Daly, UConn, Sr., D*
Rayea Davis, UConn, R-Jr., A*
Lauren Black, Denver, Sr., A
Emelia Bohi, Denver, Sr., GK
Caroline Colimore, Denver, Sr., M*
Ryan Dineen, Denver, Jr., A
Megan Klingenberg, Denver, Jr., D
Lily Athanas, Georgetown, Sr., D
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown, Jr., A
Maley Starr, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Sr., A*
Tess Osburn, Marquette, Jr., A
Mary Moore, Villanova, So., M*
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, Sr., A*
Maddy Stoddard, Villanova, Sr., D
Emma Verhoest, Villanova, So., DS*
*denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
- Attack
- 5' 7"
- Senior
- Midfield
- 5' 7"
- Graduate Student
- Attack
- 5' 4"
- Senior
- Attack
- 5' 4"
- Graduate Student
- Goalkeeper
- 5' 7"
- Graduate Student
- Defense
- 5' 6"
- Sophomore
- Attack
- 6' 1"
- Graduate Student
- Defense
- 5' 9"
- Senior
- Attack
- 5' 5"
- Redshirt Junior
- Midfield
- Freshman
- Goalkeeper
- Graduate Student
- Defense
- Graduate Student
Players Mentioned
- 5' 7"
- Senior
- Attack
- 5' 7"
- Graduate Student
- Midfield
- 5' 4"
- Senior
- Attack
- 5' 4"
- Graduate Student
- Attack
- 5' 7"
- Graduate Student
- Goalkeeper
- 5' 6"
- Sophomore
- Defense
- 6' 1"
- Graduate Student
- Attack
- 5' 9"
- Senior
- Defense
- 5' 5"
- Redshirt Junior
- Attack
- Freshman
- Midfield
- Graduate Student
- Goalkeeper
- Graduate Student
- Defense
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