Michelle Mason rewrote the women’s lacrosse and women’s soccer record books during her four years at Keene State College.
Mason started in goal during each of her four soccer seasons, and to-date still owns the program records for most wins (67), saves (438), shutouts (43) and games played (94), and is among the all-time leaders in GAA (fifth, 0.98) and save percentage (fifth, .826). She earned All-LEC honors in each of her four seasons, garnering First Team honors her freshman, sophomore and senior seasons. Mason was a three-time New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association All-New England selection, and was named All-Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a senior.
Keene State advanced to the LEC title match in each of Mason’s four seasons between the pipes. The Owls claimed their first-ever LEC title in 2002 and won their second in 2004. Both teams went on to the NCAA tournament, with the 2002 squad advancing to the Sweet 16 while winning a program-record 20 matches.
Mason earned the decision in each of those program-record 20 wins in 2002. Her then program record 119 saves in 2001 are now third-most at KSC, while her 13 shutouts that year are still second-most in a season.
As an attack on the lacrosse field, Mason was one of the most prolific scorers in LEC history, piling up then program record totals of 202 goals and 82 assists for 284 total points over her three seasons. Her 202 career goals remain the most in program history; she now ranks second in points and third in assists.
She was named the 2002 LEC Rookie of the Year and earned the first of her three First Team All-Conference awards after putting up then-program record totals of 68 goals, 34 assists and 102 total points. Her 102 points are still the program’s single season standard, as are her 70 goals scored during her senior campaign.
The Owls qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament in each of her three seasons, and captured the 2004 title with a 17-16 overtime win over LEC-rival Eastern Connecticut. Mason was named the tournament MVP for her efforts that postseason, which included her scoring nine goals in the final, including the game-winner in overtime.
Mason began her women’s lacrosse coaching career as an assistant at KSC before taking the reins of the program from 2007-08. The Owls were 21-14 during those two seasons before she departed to become the head coach at Division I Iona College, where she completed her 11th season leading the Gaels in 2019.
Mason earned her bachelor’s degree in geography from Keene State in 2005. She was inducted into the Keene State Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.