Reinhardt Wins 2024 NAIA National Championship

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Reinhardt left little doubt who the best team in the nation is as the top-seeded Eagles won the 2024 NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship on Saturday.

Reinhardt never trailed and used a dominating second half to win 18-10 over Lawrence Tech (Mich.).

Play was close early on. Reinhardt jumped out to a 2-0 lead and was up 3-1 before Lawrence Tech came back to tie the score at 3-all with 4:23 left in the first. With 3:35 remaining in the opening quarter, play was halted for over 30 minutes for a lightning delay. Jillian Mello, though, scored back-to-back goals soon after play resumed, and Reinhardt never looked back.

The Blue Devils were never able to pull even again as the Eagles steadily added to their lead. Mello scored her third goal of the half as time expired to give Reinhardt a 10-6 lead at the half.

It was all Reinhardt in the second half. Lawrence Tech scored with 8:36 left in the third to make it 11-9 but did not find the back of the net again until the 2:20 mark of the fourth. Meanwhile, Reinhardt went on a 7-0 run during that stretch. Anna-Marie Gazzo scored three goals during the run as she finished with a team-high five goals in the 18-10 victory.

Shelby O'Neil was named the Tournament MVP after she tallied four goals and three assists to go along with 10 draw controls, three groundballs, and three caused turnovers in the national title game.

Joining O'Neil on the NAIA All-Tournament Team were Mello, Gazzo, and Angela Sciacchitano. Cumberlands had Anna Lobbezzo also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Reinhardt head coach Roy Reynolds was named the NAIA Coach of the Year.

The national title is the first for Reinhardt in women's lacrosse, and this is the first women's lacrosse national title for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) team. This is the 16th NAIA National Championship for the AAC and the second women's NAIA National Championship for the conference. Milligan won the 2021 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship.

This is also the second national title for the AAC this academic year as Milligan won the 2023 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship.