Cat Chat
Kelly Bird, Linfield Sports Communications

Women's lacrosse shoots for return to postseason under new leadership

By Chase Fisk, Director of Athletic Communications

Linfield women's lacrosse is ready to begin the 2026 campaign this week, starting a new era under first-year head coach Monica Potter. The Wildcats primary focus is to earn a spot in the Northwest Conference Women's Lacrosse Tournament for a second-consecutive season after going 8-8 overall and 4-4 in NWC play last season. 

2026 Roster
2025 Results

Half of the Wildcat's roster is seniors this year, looking to build upon last season's success in their final year in the purple and cardinal. After saying farewell to a pair of key defenders and midfielders from last year's team, the new opportunity opens the door for first-year Wildcats to step up and get their careers started strong.

"I'm excited for this season. Our team goal is to make the tournament again and control what we can control. We just need to play smart and to compete as hard as we can. Another goal of ours is to make each opponent earn everything, we need to play hard and force our opponents to work for it."
Head Coach Monica Potter on her outlook on the season

Senior Gabby Crist, a three-time All-Northwest Conference selection, led the ‘Cats with 63 goals and 19 assists for 82 points in 2025. The Lake Oswego, Oregon, native was a First Team All-NWC honoree, averaging the third-most goals per game in the conference (4.20). She ranks No. 3 on Linfield’s all-time point scorers with 199 in her career, two shy of second and 56 shy of the best in program history. Crist is also 41 goals away from the most goals in a career, while already leading all Wildcats in goals per game average with 3.43.

“Gabby is phenomenal, not only skill-wise but IQ-wise and she has great speed.” said Head Coach Monica Potter.

Gabby Crist
Senior Midfielder #7 Gabby Crist
Grayce Miller
Senior Defender #20 Grayce Miller

Senior Grayce Miller is a three-time All-Northwest Conference honoree, serving as a focal point in the Wildcat defense. Miller ranked No. 5 in the NWC last season in ground balls per game (2.88), as well as No. 7 in caused turnovers per game (1.88). The San Diego, California, native is fifth all-time in Linfield history with 101 ground balls, 61 away from the top spot. She is also No. 2 in caused turnovers in program history with 86, 55 away from the No. 1 spot in the record books.

“Defensively, Gracie [Grayce] Miller and Madison [DeLaTrinidad] are great walls for us. They come up with huge picks and interceptions. The defense is very strong.”

An All-Northwest Conference Honorable Mention in 2025, senior Tenley Hodge retains her starting role in the cage for the Wildcats in 2026. A native of Beaverton, Oregon, Hodge has competed in 43 games over her first three seasons, making 36 starts, tallying 2,039 minutes in the crease. She's faced nearly 1,000 shots in her career, holding a goals against average of 13.65. She ranks fifth in all-time saves with 266, and tenth in GAA with 13.88. She's tallied 15 wins, third-most in program history, three away from second and 21 from the top spot. 

“Having Tenley back in cage is a blessing.” said coach Potter.

Tenley Hodge
Senior Goalkeeper #99 Tenley Hodge
"One thing that I'm really lucky that I inherited is our returners and our leadership. We have four captains this year, they all lead in different ways. They work together as a team and continue to push each other."
Monica Potter

The Wildcats are led by four captains in 2026: Maizri Chandler, Gabby Crist, Madison DeLaTrinidad and Grayce Miller.

Each captain looks to lead a class of two freshman Wildcats aiming to make an immediate impact on the team.

“Apple Riso is a huge impact freshman. She has great IQ, smart with the ball, a great stick and she works hard on and off the field. She shows up on her own and practices, trying to improve her shot.” said Potter.

“Alexa Brandt is another great add for our team, she is also a very smart player and has a chance to make her impact right away.”
Monica Potter on first-year Wildcats
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Linfield Women's Lacrosse First Five Matches

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Linfield begins the season this Wednesday at home, hosting the Redlands Bulldogs at 5 p.m. at the Linfield Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. It shakes out to be one game against a non-conference opponent, before taking on three NWC teams in non-conference contests. 

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2025 Linfield Women's Lacrosse Schedule

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The 'Cats head to California for spring break, set to take on three strong teams from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in Cal Lutheran, Pomona-Pitzer and Occidental. 

Following the road trip, Linfield hosts two of the final three Northwest Conference games at home in the final two weeks of April, hoping to be in line for a second-consecutive appearance in the NWC Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

Evelyn Cross
All For One
Tenley Hodge
Madison De La Trinidad
Grayce Miller
Gabby Crist
Maizri Chandler
Gabby Crist
Evelyn Cross
Savannah Irwin

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