HADLEY, MASS. -- This morning, the NESCAC revealed its season-long awards for women's lacrosse in 2025. Three Eph athletes were honored for their strong play during the spring, as goaltender Caroline Pratt was named to the All-NESCAC First Team while midfielder Claudia Russell and defender Grace Collier were awarded with Second Team honors.
Pratt received the first NESCAC honor of her career. After sharing time behind the net over her first two competitive seasons at Williams, she was the team's primary goalie this year and finished with 145 saves and a .529 save percentage, both career highs. Her 145 saves more than doubled her previous career high of 61 that came from 2023. Her consistency in the net kept the Ephs in many games and merited her selection as the best goalie in the NESCAC.
"Caroline is one of the quickest and most athletic goalkeepers, and was an absolute brick wall in the cage this season making saves that most goalkeepers only dream of," said Eph head coach Alice Lee. "Her sharp awareness beyond the crease made her even more dangerous as she consistently disrupted offensive play with her interceptions and ground balls."
Russell has received NESCAC honors twice before in her illustrious career. She was named to the First Team in 2023 and the Second Team in 2024. This year, she was once again impressive, finishing with 26 goals and 13 assists, for a career-high 39 points.Â
"Claudia was a powerhouse midfielder for us and hugely impactful on both sides of the ball," coach Lee said. "Not only did she lead our team with assists, but her precision in her free position shooting is unmatched. Defensively, she rose to the challenge of consistently stopping another team's 1v1 challenges with her physical strength and quick footwork."
Collier landed her first NESCAC honor with a stellar defensive season. This year, she moved into a more defensive position after spending her first three seasons in an attacking role, and led the team, outside of Pratt, with 32 ground balls. Her defensive tenacity also forced many turnovers for the Ephs over the season.Â
"Grace was a game-changer on the draw circle and a cornerstone of our defense," Lee said. "Her ability to anticipate the draw and quick first-step were key to helping us gain possession off the draw. On the defensive end, she consistently shut down top attackers across the conference, and her ability to get clean takeaway checks and push the ball up field with speed was critical to our transition game."
Above all, Lee is most proud of these three seniors for their play on the season and for their leadership over four years.
"I'm incredibly proud of Caroline, Claudia, and Grace for earning well-deserved NESCAC All-Conference honors and being recognized among the top players in the most competitive league in the country," Lee said. "In addition to their impact on the field, Caroline, Claudia, and Grace have been just as impactful as leaders. As captains, they brought steady, unwavering leadership that have shaped a culture of commitment, excellence, and love. Their legacy, both on and off the field, laid a strong foundation for this season and years to come."
