Carleton remains undefeated while Washington continues to climb, reaching their first tournament final of the season
March 22, 2026 by Theresa Diffendal in Recap
Ultiworld’s 2026 college coverage is presented by Spin Ultimate; all opinions are those of the author(s). Find out how Spin can get you, and your team, looking your best this season.
#1 Carleton Syzygy won their third tournament of the season, extending their undefeated streak to 19 with a 15-11 victory over #6 Washington Element in the Northwest Challenge final. Washington broke on the opening point, forcing enough swings from the Syzygy backfield for one to go awry, and forced a turn on the next, but Element never again led as Carleton gained a 2-1, then 8-5 lead.
Carleton’s ability to drive in quick scores through both easy lateral passes with Naomi Fina, Chloe Hakimi, and Eliza Barton or one shot, full-field goals from Chagall Gelfand to Kyliah McRoy kept the Washington offense on the field. Rotating Element personnel like Savanna Tucker, Lauren Goddu, Lucy Tanner, and Sophia Palmer were able to find success with arcing hucks to tall receivers, but Carleton’s zone forced enough long possessions and turns to build a cushion that never shrunk to more than two goals. Mia Fischer’s motor kept Syzygy’s D-line humming with a bevvy of both blocks and scores.
Syzygy put the game away with patented patient end zone work, Hakimi hitting Fina with a soft looping flick across the face of the goal line. This is Carleton’s second consecutive Northwest Challenge title, and fourth-straight appearance in the final.
Carleton’s closest game of the weekend — and indeed of the whole season — came against #4 UBC in quarters, a 15-14 classic where neither team led by more than two goals. Though Carleton and UBC were seeded first and second overall, they fell to the same side of the bracket after the Thunderbirds lost (also on universe) to Washington in pool play.
For Washington, this marked their first trip to a tournament final in 2026. Northwest Challenge is the latest and greatest outing in Element’s campaign, as the team has built from a rocky Presidents’ Day Invite, to Stanford Invite semifinalist, to now a second-place showing. Their close win over UBC portends a must-watch Northwest regional title game.
Ultiworld filmed 13 games from the tournament; check out our event page below to rewatch all the weekend’s action.
