The Colorado College women’s lacrosse team made a triumphant return to the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship and served notice it will be a force to be reckoned with in 2017.

In their first postseason appearance since 2007, the Tigers dominated in the first half to defeat Rhodes College, 18-2, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on May 15 at Stewart Field. CC was red-hot during the opening minutes of the contest, torching the Lynx for five goals during the opening 5:20.

Steph Kelly ’18 struck for the first of her game-high four goals just 26 seconds into the contest. Nikki Blair ’19 doubled the Tigers’ lead less than a minute later, and then Mary Taussig ’17 notched what proved to be the game winner with just 3:29 expired. Kelly’s third tally gave CC a 10-goal cushion, and it led 13-0 before Rhodes scored with 2:59 remaining in the first half.

In the ensuing round of the tournament, the Tigers fell 17-7 at Salisbury University in a game played in a torrential rain. CC completed the season with a 14-3 record, which included a nine-game winning streak. Seven of those nine victories occurred on the road, including three against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Kelly, who ranked among the national leaders in three statistical categories, earned third-team All-America honors from the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA). She became the 10th All-American in the 22-year history of CC’s varsity program and the first since Mallory Newton ’08 was named to the third team in 2008.

The sophomore attacker set single-season school records with 46 assists, 96 points, and 148 draw controls. She also was second on the team with a career-high 50 goals. Kelly ranked second nationally averaging 8.71 draw controls per game. She also tied for eighth in points per game (5.65) and finished 13th in assists per game (2.71).

The Tigers will return 10 of 12 starters and 16 of 18 veterans in 2017.