The University of Mary Washington fell to Colby College in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships in Ewing, NJ on Saturday afternoon, 2-1.
The Eagles were the ones who jumped out early in front when
Skye Lawhun's first attempt bounced off the crossbar and to the feet of
Emma Braxton, who knocked the ball into the back of the net in the 6' to put UMW up, 1-0. Just three minutes later, UMW was a victim of an an errant Colby pass in the attacking zone that bounced off the foot of an Eagle defender and into the back of the net to tie the game at one apiece.
Colby had a chance to net the go-ahead goal quickly in the 18' when a pass down the field into the attacking zone left an attacker open near the 18-yard box, but keeper
Emily Orn came sprinting out of the box, diving at the ball, before coming away with a save. In the 32', Orn came away with another big save off of a Colby corner that found the foot of an attacker; on the attempt, Orn punched the ball away before it was cleared by UMW's defense.
But Colby scored the game-winner in the 38' off of a corner that found the head of a forward, then eventually the back of the net to put the Mules up, 2-1.
In the second half, UMW had two solid chances to tie the game, but the Mules keeper came up with saves to keep the Eagles off the board. In the 56',
Katie Britton's attempt into the box was saved before
Taylor Garofalo's chance in the 61' into the lower right corner was also saved. In the 86',
Steph Reyes Chirinos's attempt from outside the box was wide right to cap the day.
On the afternoon, Colby led in shots, 10-5, shots-on-goal, 6-4, and corners, 9-1. Keeper
Emily Orn came up with five saves in the contest.
The Eagles end the 2026 season with their second straight NCAA berth -- the first time UMW has returned to the tournament in back-to-back years since it reached the tournament four years in a row from 2001-2004. UMW finishes the season with a 12-3-4 record that included 13 consecutive match unbeaten streak.
