During the 2018 season, the Irish defense was stout once again thanks to Powell's leadership. The Irish held opponents to less than 10 goals on nine occasions and were 8-1 in those games. In three of those games against ranked opponents (Syracuse, Duke and Virginia), the Irish held their opponents to two or less goals in a half and were victorious in all three games.

Sam Giacolone was named preseason All-ACC and was named to the All-ACC first team at the conclusion of the regular season. She had five double-digit save games, including an 11 save performance against Jacksonville where she stopped 11 of 17 shots for a .647 save percentage. Defender Hannah Proctor was also a preseason All-ACC honoree and was named second team All-ACC after the regular season.

Powell and the Irish finished the 2017 season with an 11-8 overall record and a 4-3 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The 2017 squad featured two IWLCA All-Americans: Casey Pearsall (first team) and Cortney Fortunato (second team). In 2015, Sullivan became Notre Dame’s first-ever defensive finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, and Sullivan repeated as a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist in 2016. Among other accolades awarded to Irish players, Margaret Smith was named a Tewaaraton Trophy nominee and the co-Defensive Player of the Year nationally following Powell’s first season.

Powell spent three seasons at James Madison as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator. While with the Dukes, Powell helped JMU win the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Championship to secure an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship. She helped mentor four all-CAA defenders, including Cally Chakrian, who twice earned a spot on the IWLCA All-South second team and was named the 2012 CAA Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2007 George Mason alum helped the Dukes' defense rank in the top 30 nationally for scoring defenses in all three seasons, including a No. 9 ranking during the aforementioned 2011 season. In addition to her on-the-field coaching duties, Powell was the recruiting coordinator, the director of camps, clinics and fundraising and planned the travel for the team during the season among many other tasks.