Meet Grace Osborn, the Star Destroying the NCAA Record Book

On Saturday afternoon, with an opportunity to clinch an Ohio Athletic Conference championship and an automatic bid in the NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse tournament, junior midfielder Grace Osborn was on the verge of a landmark of her own.

Heading into the conference championship game, Osborn had 136 goals this spring. The previous single-season goals record stood at 141, set by Maggie Nelson of Saint Vincent in 2018. Early in the fourth quarter, Osborn took sole possession of first place by scoring her sixth goal of the game.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the Pickerington, Ohio, native. By the time her college career is over, her name will likely stand atop most major scoring records — across all levels of NCAA lacrosse, men’s or women’s.

Capital head coach Stacey Florence wasn’t sure if she could even get Osborn to commit to the Comets when she first became familiar with the shifty middie her freshman year of high school. Even then, Florence could tell Osborn was a highly skilled scorer, and landing her would be difficult for a program as new and as small as Capital.

“Oh my God, she’s going to go D-I,” Florence remembers thinking.

Ultimately, though, Osborn preferred to stay closer to home. Her high school coach’s daughter was a former Pickerington-to-Capital product, and that familiarity helped open the door for Florence.

“I just started to develop a close relationship during her junior and senior year,” Florence said. “We talked a lot, and I kind of told her, ‘If you come here, we’re going to make you the best. I knew what she was capable of.”

Florence’s certainty of Osborn’s potential sealed the deal for her commitment.

“She made me feel confident before I even came to Capital in what I could potentially do,” Osborn said.

Osborn didn’t come quietly into college lacrosse, either. Florence wasn’t sure exactly what her future star’s first year would look like, but it became far clearer when Osborn rattled off six goals in her collegiate debut. She totaled 126 goals in her first season with the Comets in 2022.

She makes scoring look effortless on the field, but it’s the hard offseason work that keeps Osborn growing and increasing her production each season. Wall ball is part of her daily routine. Four years of cross country and a love for running helps keep her in games as long as possible, staying on the field for nearly the full 60 minutes. Earlier this season, Osborn played in all 66 minutes of Capital’s overtime win over Hope, playing both sides of the ball and taking draw controls.

“She’ll run them until they can’t do it anymore,” Florence said.

Osborn adds new moves to her arsenal whenever possible — quick to shoutout reigning Tewaaraton Award winner Izzy Scane, whom she watches highlights of and takes inspiration from whenever possible. Battling through double teams and making the right plays out of them are increasingly key for her, especially as her spotlight grows within women’s lacrosse.

“People know who I am now,” Osborn said.

Know her or not, teams haven’t found a way to solve her as of yet. In year three, she’s producing more than ever, averaging over 10 points and eight goals per game.

Osborn doesn’t know her exact numbers, or where they stand among the Division III record book. But Florence knows. Her sports information director knows. Her teammates do, too. And they’re all loving every second of the ride they’re on together.

“They love it, they support her 100 percent. She’s putting our school and our program on the map,” Florence said. “It’s unreal what she’s doing for our program and our university, and we encourage her and help her.

“I’m just very lucky to have a kid like her. She’s just one of those diamonds in the rough.”

Osborn already has three active Division III scoring records: most career points per game (8.78), most career goals per game (6.89), and now most goals in a single season (142). She also tied the record for most points in a single game with 19 on Wednesday in the OAC semifinals.

She’s 10 goals away from tying Elizabeth Peasley for most career goals (389) — in 30 fewer games. And if she gets 10 more points this season, she’ll break the mark for highest single-season point total (197).

Oh, and she’s 26 points away from setting a new career points record (509).

All as a junior. All before this season ends, and with another season of eligibility in front of her. At this rate, Osborn won’t just break records. She’ll shatter them — and possibly set unfathomably high bars for whomever wants to break them.

From a small town in Ohio, to a small school in Ohio, Grace Osborn is leaving her mark on Division III in about as big a way as possible.

SINGLE-SEASON GOALS (DIVISION III)

1. Grace Osborn, Capital (2024) — 142
2. Maggie Nelson, Saint Vincent (2018) — 141
3. Tara Bainbridge, New England (2019) — 140

SINGLE-SEASON POINTS (DIVISION III)

1. Tara Bainbridge, New England (2019) — 197
2. Grace Osborn, Capital (2024) — 188
3. Maggie Nelson, Saint Vincent (2018) — 178

CAREER GOALS (DIVISION III)

1. Elizabeth Peasley, Averett (2018-23) — 389
2. Grace Osborn, Capital (2022-Pres.) — 379
3. Maggie Nelson, Saint Vincent (2015-18) — 370

CAREER POINTS (DIVISION III)

1. Tara Bainbridge, New England (2016-19) — 509
2. Ashley Hansburg, Curry (2008-11) — 500
3. Maggie Nelson, Saint Vincent (2015-18) — 496
4. Grace Osborn, Capital (2022-Pres.) — 483