The SUNY Cortland women's lacrosse has earned an automatic berth into the 47-team 2026 NCAA Division III playoffs. The Red Dragons (14-4) will face Colby (9-7) in a first-round game on Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m. at Wesleyan in Middletown, Conn.
 
The Cortland/Colby winner will face host Wesleyan (15-3) in the NCAA second round on Sunday at 1 p.m. That winner will advance to a four-team regional on May 16-17 at a site to be determined. The national semifinals and finals will be held May 22 and 24 at RIT's Judson Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.
 
The Red Dragons earned their automatic qualifier by winning the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title with a 9-4 victory over Oswego on Saturday. Cortland's SUNYAC title was its 25th all-time, and third in five seasons under head coach Kelsey Van Alstyne. Tournament MVP Ashley Melillo (Massapequa) finished with two goals and an assist in the championship game, while Bella Dembinski (Holbrook/Sachem East) and Emma Dempsey (Brewerton/Paul V. Moore) each tallied three goals to earn all-tournament team honors.
 
Cortland is making its 27th NCAA appearance (Cortland also competed in five AIAW or USWLA national tournaments from 1979-1984). Cortland last appeared in the national tournament in 2024, defeating Westfield State before losing to Tufts in the second round. The Red Dragons won two NCAA games in 2022 to tie for ninth nationally. Cortland advances to at least the national semifinals in six straights from 2011-16, winning the national title in 2015. 
 
Colby earned an at-large berth into the national tournament after falling to Tufts in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament. The Mules have appeared in every NCAA tournament since 2019, including reaching the semifinals of the national tournament last season. 
 
Cortland and Colby have met in the national tournament previously three times in the last 15 tournaments, with Cortland going 2-1 in those games. The Red Dragons earned a 16-7 win in 2014, and a 15-4 victory in 2011, with both games in Cortland. Colby won, 10-9 at Hamilton College, in the 2010 season.