Men's lacrosse and volleyball won conference championships in the 2024-25 season.

From individual achievements to hoisting championship trophies, the 2024-25 season brought several special moments for Colgate Athletics.

Here’s a look at the highlights.

Volleyball

The Raiders, with a roster of youth and veteran star firepower, entered the 2024-25 season as the favorites to win the Patriot League. They did not disappoint.

Colgate finished with a record of 19-11 while going 14-2 in conference play en route to winning a fourth consecutive Patriot League title. But it didn’t come easy for the Raiders, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit to topple Army in a five-set thriller in the championship match.

In doing so, the Raiders punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament yet again.

When the conference awards were announced, Colgate brought home several individual honors. Outside hitter and sophomore Milan Bayless was named conference Player of the Year.

Senior Abby Shadwick, the conference tournament MVP, was named the Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Men’s Lacrosse

Colgate marched into the postseason as the No. 5 seed, eager to prove it was better than its 4-4 conference record (10-8 overall). But to make it happen, the Raiders knew they had to play their best.

And that’s precisely what they did. Colgate took down No. 4 Lehigh in the quarterfinals, then moved on to the next round, where top-seeded Army awaited.

The Black Knights, who hosted the tournament, were the heavy favorites. But that didn’t matter to the Raiders, who pulled off a dramatic performance to stun Army 16-13 and advance to the championship game.

The final hurdle for Colgate was No. 2 Boston University. Like Lehigh and Army, the Terriers got the best of Colgate during the regular season. But it’s the Raiders who would have the last laugh. 

Colgate bested the Terriers 17-10, winning the program’s first conference championship since 2015.

The Raiders were led by goalkeeper Matt LaCombe, who was named the Tournament MVP. Meanwhile, Liam Connor, Rory Connor, and Hunter Drouin were named to the All-Tournament Team along with LaCombe for their outstanding play.

Through grit and perseverance, the Raiders had taken the toughest path to a championship.

Track & Field

The Raiders had another strong season, with various student-athletes setting personal records and earning medals. That success continued in the indoor and outdoor conference championships.

Senior Cole Blair picked up where he left off by winning the gold in the long jump in the indoor competition. He added one more first-place finish to his total in the Patriot League Outdoor Championship on May 3, shattering the record books in the process.

Blair became the first student-athlete in conference history to win the long jump in four consecutive seasons. In total, he finished his Colgate career with six gold medals in the long jump (four outdoor, two indoor).

But Blair wasn’t the only Raider to stand at the top of the podium.

Junior Claire Gillis shined on the big stage when she won the 200m dash with a blazing 24.49s race. It was her first gold medal at the Patriot League Indoor Championship, setting a personal record in the process.

Women’s Rowing

Colgate’s varsity eight began the season in exemplary fashion when the boat finished first in a regatta with High Point and Marist. The Raiders were recognized for their efforts days later when they were named the Patriot League Boat of the Week. 

It was the first time in recorded history that the program had won such an award.

But the varsity eight wasn’t finished. A few weeks later, this time at the New York State Championships in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the varsity eight was victorious again. As a result, the varsity eight won a second Boat of the Week honor.