Women's Lacrosse | 2/6/2026 12:54:00 PM
WIAC Release
Madison, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse lacrosse team is predicted to finish fifth in the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
UWL returns 18 letter winners and 10 starters from last season's team which finished 10-7 overall and 6-3 in the WIAC. The Eagles advanced to the league tournament last year.
Nick Anagnostis starts his second season as head coach in 2026. UWL's 10 overall victories last year are third-most in single-season school history. Five players earned All-WIAC honors in 2025, including a pair of first team selections.
Megan Maloney scored 45 goals a year ago.
Colorado College is projected to secure its third consecutive regular-season title. The Tigers advanced to the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III championship last season after winning their second straight WIAC tournament title. Colorado College is ranked 22nd in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Preseason Poll.
The College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) is predicted to finish second followed by UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-La Crosse, UW-Stout, Hamline University (Minn.), UW-Stevens Point and Augsburg University (Minn.).
Senior attacker
Megan Maloney of
Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park) and senior midfielder
Ava Schiltz of
Prior Lake, Minn. (H.S.) have both earned a pair of All-WIAC honors. Maloney was named to the 2024 honorable mention team and earned 2025 first team accolades.
She started all 17 games last season, finishing second for UWL in points (61), goals (45), assists (16), draw controls (77), shots (98) and shots on goal (80). Maloney ranked third on the team in ground balls (32) and tied for third in caused turnovers (13). She recorded multiple goals in 12 games, including a season-high six versus Augsburg University (Minn).
Schlitz has been selected to the 2024 and 2025 All-WIAC First Team. Starting all 17 games a year ago, she led UWL in goals (55), assists (20), points (75), shots (110), shots on goal (91) and free position goals (16). She scored a goal in all 17 games with a season-high five versus Carthage College (Wis.), Aurora University (Ill.), Carroll University (Wis.) and Augsburg (Minn.).
Senior defenders
Anna Jenson of
Hartland (Arrowhead),
Gretchen McCann of
Savage, Minn. (Prior Lake) and
Lydia Spencer of
Minneapolis, Minn. (St. Paul Central) have also earned all-league recognition. Jenson, who started all 17 games last season, and Spencer, who played in 10 games a year ago, were both named to the 2024 All-WIAC Honorable Mention Team. Jenson recorded 24 ground balls in 2024 while Spencer finished the season with 34 ground balls and (third on the team).
McCann earned 2025 All-WIAC Second Team accolades after starting all 17 games, recording four assists.
Ava Schiltz is a two-time All-WIAC First Team choice.
Senior defender
Kara Stay of
Andover, Minn. (H.S.) returns after starting all 17 games last season while recording 27 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers.
Junior midfielder
Angie Olla of
Muskego (H.S.), junior attacker
Emily Wrobbel of
Cedarburg (H.S.), sophomore
Evie Brilz of
Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-La Vista) and sophomore midfielder
Tori Katzenmeyer of
Hopkins, Minn. (H.S.) played in all 17 contests a year ago.
Olla started 16 games last year, recording 20 goals and 11 assists while Wrobbel started every game with 10 goals and nine assists. Brilz started all 17 games and finished fourth for UWL in goals (31), points (43) and shots (60) while ranking third in assists (12). Katzenmeyer started 11 games with 16 goals and nine assists.
Junior goalkeeper
Stefania Rossi of
Elk Grove Village, Ill. (Conant) started 16 games, finishing with a 9-7 record. She recorded 124 saves and 11.14 goals against average.
UWL opens its season Saturday, February 28 at Carthage College (Wis.) with the home opener scheduled for Saturday, March 7 versus Illinois Wesleyan University.
The top-six teams in the standings will secure a spot in the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) that will be conducted April 29, May 1 and May 3. All games will be played at the higher seed, unless Colorado College is the higher seed, the Minnesota/Wisconsin institution will host. The winner of the conference tournament receives an automatic NCAA bid.
