No. 13/14 Women’s Lacrosse Makes History Earning Program’s First NCAA Tournament Victory

Sunday, May 10

Baltimore, MD

12:00 p.m.

Army West Point

Johns Hopkins (Second Round)

Geneva Milch Cesoni (35) and Allison Reilly (23) celebrate a goal in the 2026 NCAA Tournament First Round against Fairfield on May 8, 2026 at Homewood Field in Baltimore, Md.

Photo by: Bob Blakley

No. 13/14 Women’s Lacrosse Makes History Earning Program’s First NCAA Tournament Victory

May 08, 2026 | Women's Lacrosse

BALTIMORE, Md. – Army West Point women's lacrosse defeated Fairfield (15-4) in the NCAA First Round on Friday evening at Homewood Field by a score of 20-8. Army (15-4) was led by senior Allison Reilly's 10 points, her third double digit points game of the 2026 season, and junior Geneva Milch Cesoni had a career day earning a new single game goal career high with five.

Notables

The Black Knights made history securing the program's first ever NCAA Tournament victory
Women's Lacrosse becomes the Army West Point women's program to win an NCAA Tournament first round game at the Division 1 level
Senior Brigid Duffy eclipsed 100 points for the season, while senior Sarah Chernik secured her 100^th draw control
Senior Allison Reilly broke the program postseason points record with 10 points
The Black Knights earned their fifth game with at least 20 goals or more
Duffy's 16 shots tied the program record for the most shots in a singular game

By The Numbers

Goals: Two Tied (5)
Assists: Allison Reilly (7)
Points: Allison Reilly (10)
Shots: Brigid Duffy (16)
Shots on Goal: Brigid Duffy (11)
Ground Balls: Chloe Garrett (3)
Caused Turnovers: Sarah Chernik (4)
Draw Controls: Sarah Chernik (13)
Saves: Lindsey Serafine (6)

How It Happened

The game started back and forth before the Black Knights struck first from a roll dodge from a behind the net from senior Allison Reilly at 13:31 left in the first quarter. In the ensuing draw control, senior Brigid Duffy collected the ball and took it the distance to make it 2-0.
At 11:16 left in the first quarter, senior Chloe Garrett added another to make it 3-0. Fairfield would score two of their own to cut into the Black Knight lead. In the closing two minutes of the quarter, Reilly and junior Geneva Milch Cesoni connected on two goals to make it 5-2.
Coming out into the second quarter, the Black Knight exploded for seven goals in the quarter, highlighted by a second quarter hat-trick for Cesoni to make it 12-4 at half.
Additionally, Reilly and connected for second goal of the game with 11:40 left in the half on a fast break for Duffy's 100^th point of the season. Notably, freshman Emma Ciocon scored her first NCAA tournament goal at 6:26 left in the half connecting off a inside feed from Reilly.
Starting the third quarter, the Stags scored the first two goals to cut into the Black Knight lead 12-6. Senior Lily Valentini fed the ball downlow to senior Emma Grace Hepler to make if 13-7.
The Black Knights added three more goals highlighted by a goal by sophomore Paige Moretti and two back-to-back goals by Duffy to make it 16-7.
Starting in the fourth quarter, Valentini scored to extend the Black Knight lead to 10 goals. With 10 minutes left, junior Jackie Braceland created the turnover on the defensive end and quickly the ball was pushed in transition and Duffy score the transition goal to make it 18-7.
The Black Knight would add two more in the closing minutes the Black Knights added another goal each from Garrett and Reilly making it 20-8.

Up Next
The Black Knights will advance to the NCAA Tournament Second Round, where they will face No. 4 Johns Hopkins on Sunday May 10 at 12 p.m. at Homewood Field in Baltimore, Md.

Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Women's Lacrosse on X @ArmyWP_Lax and on Instagram @armywp_wlax. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about women's lacrosse and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com