The MIT women's lacrosse team secured its second consecutive New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship, defeating the U.S. Coast Guard Academy 12-5 in the finals after a 17-5 semifinal victory over Babson College. Ashley Thomas made headlines by breaking the program record for points in a season and subsequently setting a new single-season assist record during the championship match. Goalkeeper Pauline Vien, who was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the second year running, led a defense that has been pivotal to the team's success. With a 16-3 record, MIT has earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship and will host the opening rounds on May 9 and 10, receiving a bye into the second round where they will face the winner of the matchup between Gettysburg College and Husson University.
In women's tennis, MIT's Katie Driscoll was named the NEWMAC Women's Tennis Rookie of the Year, while head coach Carol Matsuzaki and her staff received the Coaching Staff of the Year accolade. The Engineers placed nine student-athletes on the All-Conference Team, with Driscoll also earning First Team honors in both singles and doubles. The team, currently ranked No. 7 nationally, received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship and will host a regional from May 8-10. MIT will face the winner of the first-round match between TCNJ and Nichols in the second round after earning a bye.
The No. 25 MIT softball team continued its strong performance in the NEWMAC Tournament, defeating Springfield College 10-2 in six innings during the second round. The Engineers scored four runs in the sixth inning to secure the victory, following a week where Ava Ladd and Sharona Huang received NEWMAC Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively. Ladd made history by becoming the third player in program history to reach 100 career RBIs. The team, which finished the regular season with a 5-1 record, is now positioned well as they continue their postseason run.
In baseball, Dalton Chi's impressive performance led the Engineers to a 12-11 victory over Springfield College in the first round of the NEWMAC Championship. Chi hit two home runs, including a grand slam, driving in seven runs total. The Engineers will advance to face top-seeded Salve Regina in the next round of the tournament on Friday, May 8.
The MIT women's openweight crew first varsity eight earned honorable mention for the Patriot League Boat of the Week following a strong showing at the New England Rowing Championships, where they won their Grand Final against Williams. The team is gearing up for the Patriot League Championship on May 15, where they will compete for an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.
Lastly, the MIT men's squash team received academic honors from both the Mid-Atlantic Squash Association and the College Squash Association, recognizing their achievements in the classroom. The team continues to balance their academic and athletic commitments as they prepare for future competitions.