Could this be the year that Army’s women’s lacrosse team truly breaks out?
It might be given the returning talent on both ends of the field from a 13-4 team that reached the NCAA tournament in 2025 – only the second time Army has played in the tournament in its 10-year history as a Division I team.
The Black Knights open up their 15-game regular season against Rutgers in a non-league game Friday, starting at 5 p.m. The opener was moved indoors due to weather and is not open to the general public.
“I am really excited for this team,” said fifth-year coach Michelle Tumolo. “We return a lot of talent that has a great deal of star power, experience and chemistry. This group has played together for a long time and that has helped them gain chemistry and unity.
“We have had some great teams the last four years, but I think, on paper, this is the best one. Our goal is to win a (Patriot League) championship which we have never done and make a splash in the NCAA tournament.”
As good as the team appears to be, Tumolo and her squad still has a lot of work to do. The first goal is winning the Patriot League and arch-rival Navy and Loyola, in particular, stand in the way. Navy, the defending league champions, are preseason favorites to win the league again and Army has never defeated Loyola, which looks strong again.
Patriot League coaches predicted that Army will finish third in the league, behind the Navy and Loyola.
“We know what we have to do and that is focusing on beating everyone in the Patriot League and there are a lot of very good teams in our league,” Tumolo noted. “Every single game matters and we know that they will all be very tough. Teams like Holy Cross and Bucknell and others are improving, and Navy and Loyola are very talented and well coached. So, we are just going to focus on one game at a time, starting with Rutgers and try to get better each week.”
But, this Army team is loaded with five of its top six scorers back from last season. The most notable returnees are Patriot League preseason attacker of the year Allison Reilly and the league’s midfielder of the year Brigid Duffy, both seniors and co-captains. They are joined by senior Lindsey Serafine, the league’s preseason goalie of the year, and Sarah Chernik, an all-Patriot, preseason first-team pick.
Reilly, who scored 60 goals and had 42 assists last year, a single-season program record for most points, is the key to the Army’s attack unit.
“She just keeps getting better each year,” said Tumolo. “She is one of the best players I have seen in a long time and she can score in so many different ways and has the mind and heart of a tiger. She does it all.”
Reilly will be joined by senior co-captain Lily Valentini, who scored 17 goals and had 11 assists and Chloe Garrett, who scored 18 goals and had 20 assists in 2025. Junior Geneva Milch Cesoni (15 goals) and highly-regarded freshman Thais Jackson will get significant playing time.
As important as Reilly is, Duffy is just as vital to the team’s success. Duffy scored 58 goals and had 20 assists last year.
“It has been such a pleasure to see the greatness of Brigid and I think she has not reached her limit yet,” said Tumolo. “Her will to win and her passion along with her talent just makes her so dynamic in every possible way.”
Tumolo expects junior Ryan Remaly (18 goals in 2025) and sophomore Kate Gallagher, who was hurt early in her freshman campaign, to both emerge as a forces in the midfield.
Defensively, the Black Knights are returning a lot of talent and experience. The fourth co-captain Meghan Pedrani and Chernik started all 17 games last year and was Army’s main draw taker, with 67 draw controls with 17 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers.
“They both have done a great job for us,” said Tumolo. “Truly athletic and they have a huge presence on the field.”
Pedrani and Chernik will be joined by sophomore Reilly Sullivan, who also started every game last season, and freshman Maura Rigley.
Last, but not least, Serafine gives Army experience and talent in goal. Starting every game in the net last year, Serafine recorded a .442 save percentage and just 10.36 goals-against average.
“Our goal is to get better as a team,” Tumolo said. “I think we have done a great job preparing the last four weeks. I feel we are in a great spot and this team is really working really hard. We are all excited to get on the field.”
