PHILADELPHIA - No. 1 seed Denver held off No. 2 seed Villanova to win the 2025 BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Championship presented by JEEP, 14-9. After a back and forth first quarter, the Pioneers went on a 7-0 scoring run to establish a comfortable lead. A three-goal run by Villanova in the third quarter closed-in on Denver's lead, but it was not enough. The Pioneers earned their fifth straight BIG EAST title and clinched the league's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Championship. This marks Denver's seventh consecutive tournament appearance and ninth overall.
The 2025 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament field will be announced Sunday, May 4 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU. 29 teams will receive bids to the national tournament.
Villanova scored the first goal less than a minute into the first quarter. By the end of the quarter, the score was tied 2-2. At the beginning of the second, Denver gained momentum and went on a 6-0 scoring run, led by sophomore attacker and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Olivia Ripple who scored three of the six.
The Pioneers finished the half with a 10-3 lead. The momentum shifted when Villanova senior attacker Sydney Pappas scored two quick goals in the third, but Denver senior goalie Emelia Bohi held strong with four saves in the fourth quarter.
Ripple finished with a team-high four goals and junior defender Megan Klingenberg had a game-high four ground balls. Pappas had a game-high five goals.
Ripple was joined on the All-Tournament Team by fellow Pioneers Bohi, Klingenberg, Lauren Black and Raegan Wilson. Villanova's Pappas, Rose Christie and Maddy Stoddard were also named to the Team along with UConn's Abby Beran and Meghan Lane, and Georgetown's Gracie Driggs and Sophia Loschert.
Most Outstanding Player
Olivia Ripple, Denver
BIG EAST All-Tournament Team
Lauren Black, Denver
Emelia Bohi, Denver
Megan Klingenberg, Denver
Olivia Ripple, Denver
Raegan Wilson, Denver
Rose Christie, Villanova
Sydney Pappas, Villanova
Maddy Stoddard, Villanova
Abby Beran, Connecticut
Meghan Lane, Connecticut
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown
Sophia Loschert, Georgetown
BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Championship
Presented by Jeep
Semifinals – May 1 – BEDN
No. 1 seed Denver 20 vs. No. 4 Georgetown seed 9
No. 2 seed Villanova 16 vs. No. 3 UConn seed 10
Final – May 3 – FS2
No. 1 seed Denver 14 vs. No. 2 seed Villanova 9
All games played at Villanova Stadium - Villanova, Pa.