LEXINGTON, KY. – Transylvania University defeated Spalding University in the 2026 Heartland Collegiate Women’s Lacrosse Conference Championship on Friday night to claim the HCLC title in the league's final year.  

2026 HCAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship Page

HCLC Coach of the Year, Brianna McCulley led her Pioneer team to a 16-7 Championship game victory over the Golden Eagles that capped off an undefeated 2026 HCLC campaign and secured Transy's bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship. 

After a goal less than a minute into play by Spalding's Grace Mitchell (St. Louis, MO), the Golden Eagles were able to build a 3-1 lead by the end of the first quarter of play.  In the second quarter, Transylvania'a Kaelin Truman (Louisville, KY) was able to net four of her own goals and Transylvania held a 6-4 advantage at the halftime break.  Spalding was not done putting up a championship level fight, and at the end of the third quarter the Pioneer lead had only grown by one goal (10-7).  To start the fourth quarter, Transylvania's Layla Hobbs-Powell (Lexington, KY) showed why she was the HCLC Newcomer of the Year as she put two balls in net very quickly to extend the lead.  From there, the Pioneers did not let off the gas and defensively shut down Spalding, claiming another HCLC Championship title.

Other notable game performances:

-    Spalding's Whitney White (Fort Brag, NC) showed why she earned HCLC Defensive Player of the Year honors, as the goalie had 19 saves in the championship game.

-    Besides her five goals, Transylvania Junior Sofie Garrett (Stone Mountain, GA) had an impressive 12 draw controls for the game.

-    Freshman Pioneer goaltender Ruby Himes (Lexington, KY) played all 60 minutes between the pipes for the Pioneers and was able blank the Golden Eagles in the fourth quarter, securing the win for the Pioneers.

Transylvania now awaits the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse selection show, to be held on Monday, May 4th at 10:30 a.m., to determine their first-round matchup.

2026 HCLC Women’s Lacrosse All-Tournament Team

Following the completion of the championship game, the HCLC named an all-tournament team.  Members of the 2026 HCLC Women’s Lacrosse All-Tournament Team are: (listed alphabetically)

Sofie Garrett, Transylvania University

Kaelin Truman, Transylvania University

Lily Haroules, Transylvania University

Presley Helton, Transylvania University

Ruby Himes, Transylvania University

Layla Hobbs-Powell, Transylvania University

Nicole Hollowell, Spalding University

Katelyn Madden, Hanover College

Grace Mitchell, Spalding University

Whitney White, Spalding University

Emma Williams, Hanover College

Taylor Young, Spalding University
 

For more information on HCLC Women's Lacrosse, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.