GAMBIER, Ohio -- After orchestrating the first undefeated season in program history, the Kenyon College women's lacrosse team will open postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the four-team North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament. On Wednesday, the Owls will welcome No. 4-seeded DePauw University to The Field at Benson Bowl for a semifinal matchup.

Kenyon claimed the conference's crown and top seed by posting a perfect 16-0 overall record, including a 6-0 mark in NCAC contests. The 16-game winning streak set a program record, and the 16 victories tied last season's record output. The regular-season title was Kenyon's second straight and third overall, and the Owls will be looking to defend their 2022 NCAC Tournament Championship with a repeat performance this week.

The matchup between the Tigers and Owls is an immediate rematch of the teams' regular-season finale. On April 29, Kenyon downed DePauw 20-4 in Greencastle, Indiana, to solidify the teams' tournament seeding. The Tigers finished the season with an 11-4 overall record and went 3-3 in the NCAC. Kenyon has been victorious in each of the nine meetings between the teams since first matching up in 2013.

The semifinal matchup winner will face the winner of the semifinal bout between Ohio Wesleyan University (11-5, 4-2 NCAC), the third seed, and hosting Denison University (7-10, 5-1 NCAC), the second seed. The Championship game will take place either Saturday or Sunday at the home site of the highest remaining seed.

Kenyon has posted an NCAC-leading coring margin of 9.9 this season after racking up 266 goals and allowing 107 in 16 games. The Owls lead the conference in both goals and points per game at 16.63 and 23.50, respectively. DePauw tied for the third-best scoring margin at 3.8 after posting 218 goals for and 161 goals against. The Tigers rank third in goals and points per game, and they edged out Kenyon (6.88) for the most assists per game at 6.93. The Tigers account for four of the NCAC's top seven in the individual points per game rankings, while Kenyon's balanced attack is led by Caroline O'Neil, the conference's top points producer.

O'Neil has tallied 68 points with 51 goals and 17 assists. Kate Lengel (33), Lily Mason (32), and Mallory Brophy (28) round out the Owls' top four goal scorers, while seven other Owls have scored between 10 and 20 goals. Senior Tatumn Eccleston ranks second on the team with 47 points, doing so with a 40-assist total that ranks second in the NCAC and fourth in Kenyon history. Sophomore goalkeeper Nola Garand has posted a 15-0 record, racking up 89 saves and a .511 save percentage while allowing 7.35 goals per game.

The semifinal matchup on The Field at Benson Bowl is slated for a 4 p.m. start. As mandated by the NCAC, tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (18 years of age and under). Any NCAC student with a valid ID from their NCAC institution will be admitted free of charge.