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- 23 Women's Lacrosse from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) lost its regular season finale to No.
- The Chargers entered the matchup with a 12-6 overall record and a 7-3 mark in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), having secured a playoff berth earlier in the...
- Despite the loss, UAH's offense showed flashes of effectiveness, particularly in the first half when they trailed just 7-5 at the break.
No. 23 Women’s Lacrosse from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) lost its regular season finale to No. 1 Flagler College on April 18, 2026, in St. Augustine, Florida, ending the Chargers’ campaign with a 15-8 defeat.
The Chargers entered the matchup with a 12-6 overall record and a 7-3 mark in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), having secured a playoff berth earlier in the season. Flagler, ranked No. 1 nationally in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll, entered the game undefeated in conference play at 10-0 and sought to clinch the SSC regular season title outright.
Despite the loss, UAH’s offense showed flashes of effectiveness, particularly in the first half when they trailed just 7-5 at the break. Senior attacker Megan Rodriguez led the Chargers with three goals and two assists, while junior midfielder Kayla Thompson added two goals and caused three turnovers. Flagler’s offense, paced by All-American attacker Emily Carter with four goals and one assist, pulled away in the second half with a 8-3 run to seal the victory.
Season Context and Playoff Implications
The defeat concluded UAH’s regular season, but the Chargers had already secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming SSC Tournament, set to begin April 22, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida. As a result of their conference standing, UAH will host the No. 6 seed Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the quarterfinals on April 22 at 4:00 p.m. CDT at the UAH Soccer/Lacrosse Complex in Huntsville, Alabama.
Head Coach Sarah Jenkins emphasized the team’s readiness for postseason play despite the final regular season result. “We knew coming into this game that our focus had to shift quickly to the tournament,” Jenkins said in a postgame press conference. “The kids responded well in adversity today, and we’ll take that resilience into our first playoff game.”
Team Performance and Statistical Overview
For the season, UAH averaged 10.2 goals per game while allowing 9.8, ranking fourth and third respectively in the SSC in offensive and defensive efficiency. The Chargers led the conference in draw control wins at 14.3 per game, paced by Thompson’s team-high 89 draw controls on the season.
Flagler, by contrast, finished the regular season as the SSC’s top-scoring offense at 13.1 goals per game and allowed just 8.2 goals per game, the best mark in the conference. The Saints also led the league in caused turnovers (9.6 per game) and clearing percentage (.882).
Looking Ahead to the SSC Tournament
UAH’s path to the SSC Championship requires two victories: a quarterfinal win over Embry-Riddle followed by a semifinal match likely against either No. 2 Florida Southern or No. 4 Lynn University, depending on other quarterfinal results. The SSC Tournament final is scheduled for April 24, 2026, with the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse Championship on the line.
The Chargers have historically performed well in the SSC Tournament, reaching the championship game in three of the last five seasons and winning the title in 2022. Their experience in high-stakes conference play could prove valuable as they aim to extend their season and secure an NCAA Tournament berth for the fourth time in program history.