Lady Ravens return to nationals as top seed

Benedictine’s Lady Ravens did not just make it back to nationals, they arrived in Decatur, Alabama, as the No. 1 seed, a place that signaled strength before the first draw at Jack Allen Sports Complex. For Atchison, that mattered beyond bracket position: it marked a Benedictine College program that had earned its way into the national spotlight and gave students, alumni and families a reason to track every game with title expectations instead of simple hope.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the 2026 women’s lacrosse championship field on May 4, with eight teams heading to Decatur for the sixth annual tournament. Quarterfinals began May 11, semifinals were set for May 13, and the championship game was scheduled for May 15. The field carried a combined 97-19 record, and Benedictine, along with Cumberlands, claimed the top two seeds in a bracket that featured six teams that have appeared in every championship since women’s lacrosse became an official NAIA championship sport in 2021.

Benedictine backed up the seeding with a perfect season. The Ravens entered the tournament unbeaten at 16-0, later finished 19-0, and captured their second consecutive NAIA women’s lacrosse national championship. The final NAIA coaches’ poll reflected that dominance as well, with Benedictine ranked unanimous No. 1 in the nation. For a local program in Atchison, that combination of an unbeaten record, a top seed and a national title made this far more than a routine postseason trip.

The individual honors matched the team results. Kaylen Moore, a senior from Seattle, Washington, was named the 2026 NAIA Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year after ranking third in the NAIA in points and assists and leading the nation in draw controls with 144. Clare Hanson was selected as Coach of the Year, adding another layer to a program that has become one of the NAIA’s standard-bearers in a short span.

Benedictine won its first NAIA women’s lacrosse championship in 2022, Hanson’s first season as head coach, and the 2025 title gave the Ravens back-to-back crowns. With the sport only elevated to official championship status in 2021, that track record gives the Atchison campus something rare to celebrate: a program that has moved from breakthrough to benchmark in just a few seasons.