No. 2 Women's Lacrosse's NCAA Run Ends In Semifinals, 15-10
SALEM, Va. (May 16, 2009) – Adelphi University scored five unanswered goals in the final minutes of the second half to defeat C.W. Post, 15-10, in the NCAA Division II women's lacrosse semifinal Saturday afternoon at host Roanoke College. Adelphi advances to play Lock Haven University in the national championship game Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m.
Adelphi remains undefeated this season with a 17-0 record. C.W. Post ends its season at 16-3 overall.
Adelphi outshot C.W. Post by a 43-27 margin while the Pioneers held a 14-13 advantage in both ground balls and draw controls.
C.W. Post stepped out to a 1-0 lead after freshman midfielder Ashley Olen (East islip, N.Y.) scored on a free position shot 14 seconds in the game. Adelphi countered with a free position goal from freshman attacker Erica Devito (Shoreham, N.Y.) at 28:22.
It was back and forth for both teams throughout the first half. Adelphi took its first lead of the game on a goal from sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Carter (Mineola, N.Y.) on a pass from freshman midfielder Marissa Mills (Islip, N.Y.). The Panthers pumped in two more goals from junior midfielder Vanessa Sotcheff (Rocky Point, N.Y.) and Devito to increase their lead to 4-2 with 16:30 left to play in the half.
The Pioneers found a rhythm and outscored the Panthers 3-1 over the next ten minutes to reclaim their lead at 6-5 with 2:57 left in the half.
The lead did not stick as Carter scored her second goal of the game to tie things up at 6-all at halftime.
Adelphi continued to keep its momentum and fired in three straight shots, including two from Carter, to take a sizeable 9-6 lead with 22:51 left to play.
The Pioneers answered with a free position goal from sophomore attacker Michelle Fucich (Seaford, N.Y.) and a goal from senior midfielder Katie Hogan (Farmingdale, N.Y.) to cut Adelphi's lead to 10-8.
The Pioneers tied the game up again when junior midfielder Kian Lyons (Farmingdale, N.Y.) scored on a free position shot followed by a goal from junior midfielder Brianne Jackolski (Shirley, N.Y.) to knot the score at 10-all.
But that was all the offense C.W. Post could muster as the Panthers scored five unanswered goals while dutifully running out the clock on the Pioneers' defensive end.
Carter led all scorers with six goals while Devito added four goals plus an assist for Adephi. Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Fitzpatrick (Port Washington, N.Y.) stopped seven shots in net to preserve the win.
Jackolski led the Pioneers with a hat trick while sophomore Sam Powers (Holbrook, N.Y.) made 14 saves in goal. Senior attacker Jaclyn Napoli (West Islip, N.Y.) added two goals and set a new C.W. Post single-season scoring record with 67 goals.