After a program-best third place conference finish in 2024, Davidson lacrosse has continued their success in 2025 with a regular season record of 8-2. The ‘Cats now enter the postseason led by captains Payton Cheedle ‘25, Riley Cochrane ‘25, Tate Crawford ‘25 and Josie Lambert ‘25. The team celebrated Senior Day with a 15-8 win over George Washington University on Sunday, April 19.
Riley Moore ‘25 gave a description of the senior class and their impact: “Our class is a perfect mix of eight: we all have different skills, interests, strengths and leadership styles. I think we balance each other out well and are a very cohesive group in a lot of ways. Because of this, we really had a vision this year to bring a close, welcoming and fun team culture back to the program in any way we could. At the end of this year, I can safely say that we have been able to do so, and I think our teammates would agree.”
Crawford believes that the relationships with her team have created a strong sense of camaraderie. “We’ve created an environment where there’s no hierarchy […] I think the freshmen are very comfortable with us. […] It’s been a great dynamic off the field, which has transitioned so well on the field.”
Cochrane echoed Crawford’s sentiments. “The class of 2025 has done such a good job with being inclusive. And I think some of us have impacts on the field, but all of us have impacted every single person off the field, which is honestly more important for team culture.”
In addition to strong senior leadership, the on-field success can be attributed to the acceptance and tenacity from younger players. “This season we’ve had a really hard-working group of girls who want to win and know that we can win the whole thing,” Crawford said. “Throughout my four years, this has been the best culture we’ve had.”
The solidifying 14-11 win over University of Richmond also stood out as a highlight of the season. “This win was so exciting because I feel like we didn’t have any harsh expectations on us, we just played our game and came out on top,” Moore said.
In addition to their on-field wins, the class of 2025 has developed strong relationships off the field. Lambert reflected on the highlights of her career, noting especially “the friends [I] made throughout [my] four years and getting to spend every day at practice with them.” The relationships that have been built between the members of the 2025 class far outweigh the wins and losses they’ve experienced over the years at Davidson and before. Many players have committed themselves to the game of lacrosse for a large part of their lives. “Honestly, my highlight is just being able to live out the dream I had since I was younger,” Cochrane said.
As this group of seniors finishes their Davidson careers, they are not only hoping to enjoy the last few weeks with their teammates but are looking to bring back the first Atlantic 10 (A-10) championship to campus. “We are super excited for the tournament, especially because it is our last one. We fully believe we have what it takes to win,” Lambert said.
This collective positive outlook is evident among the senior class. “I think it’s going to be a lot about the belief that we can win. Even in some of our hardest games, we’ve believed that we could do it […] I still think that belief will get us further in the tournament,” Crawford stated.
The third ranked ‘Cats will take on sixth-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University on Thursday, May 1, and Davidson looks to be the last team standing in the A-10 when the whistle sounds on Sunday. Davidson’s seniors remain optimistic about their chances to take home the trophy. “Our goal is to win an A-10 championship. That’s been a focal point of all of our years here. But this year, it feels like it’s right in front of us, and I feel like we can totally get there,” Cochrane said.
