Women’s Lacrosse Standout Bella Garabo Named National Goalie of the Year for Third Consecutive Season
For the third year in a row, York College graduate student Bella Garabo has been named the National Division III Goalie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA).
Garabo is the first athlete in York’s history to win the prestigious award multiple times and the first Division III women’s lacrosse player since 2016 to be named a three-time IWLCA Positional Player of the Year.
Her standout season helped lead the Spartans to a program-best 18-4 record, a fourth consecutive MAC Commonwealth championship, and a berth in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals. The 18 victories matched a school record for wins in a single season.
"Bella departs our program as the most distinguished and accomplished player we have ever had. She has cemented her legacy not only here at York College, but in Division III women's lacrosse as one of the all-time greats," said head coach Jen Muston.
Garabo posted a 17-4 record in 21 starts this season, playing over 1,000 minutes in goal. She ended the year with a 7.91 goals-against average and a .529 save percentage—ranking fourth nationally in save percentage and 19th in goals allowed per game. One of her standout performances came during the NCAA Tournament, where she made 15 saves in a win over William Smith, setting a new York College record for saves in an NCAA game.
Over her career, Garabo amassed a 59-19 record, 600 total saves, and a career save percentage of .529 across 94 games. She was a three-time IWLCA First-Team All-American, a four-time IWLCA All-Region selection, and a three-time MAC Commonwealth Goalie of the Year.
Her impact was felt across the program, as York finished fifth in the nation in save percentage and ranked 11th in scoring defense this season.
"She raised the bar for our competitive standard and she leaves York lacrosse in a better place than when she arrived. To earn DIII Goalie of the Year three seasons in a row, is unprecedented,” Muston said. “It speaks to her work ethic, determination, mental toughness, and her sheer ability to step up to the plate and simply perform day in and out. I am honored to have coached her and to have been a part of her journey.”
Garabo’s remarkable career will be remembered not just for her accolades, but for the lasting legacy she leaves behind—one defined by excellence, resilience, and championship standards.
