Strong second half propels Westminster to PAC women's lacrosse title
GREENVILLE, Pa. (pacathletics.org)--Top-seeded Westminster College outscored No. 2 Washington & Jefferson College 10-0 in the second half to secure a 15-5 victory in the title game of the inaugural Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament Saturday evening at Burry Stadium.
With Saturday's win, Westminster (14-2) and third-year head coach Kim Eldridge earned the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. The title game victory was Westminster's 10th straight this season.
W&J and sixth-year head coach Allison Valerio conclude their season 9-8.
This spring, the PAC will be among the 27 conferences granted Pool A automatic qualification (AQ) to the annual Division III Championship. Team selections for the NCAA Division III Championship are scheduled to be announced Sunday, May 5 at 9:30 p.m. (EDT) with an online selection show available at ncaa.com. First and second round matchups are scheduled for Friday-Sunday, May 10-12.
| Saturday, March 4 |
PAC Championship Tournament [Title game]
No. 2 W&J at No. 1 Westminster
Burry Stadium--New Wilmington, Pa. |
Result: Westminster 15, W&J 5
Box score |
Senior Emily D'Amico (Moon Township, Pa. | Moon) scored eight goals in Saturday's PAC title-clinching victory. She added four draw controls, two ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. Junior Rae LaRochelle (East Sandwich, Mass. | Sandwich) scored on a free position shot with 12:10 remaining in the first half to push W&J's lead to 5-3 before Westminster closed the half with two-straight scores to even the game at 5-5 going into the half. Westminster junior Bria Braddock (Beaver Falls, Pa. | Blackhawk) finished with three goals and an assist while totaling game highs in caused turnovers (9) and ground balls (6). Junior Margo Mason (Pittsburgh, Pa. | Chartiers Valley) chipped in with a goal, three assists and three ground balls. First-year Emma Bradley (South Fayette, Pa. | South Fayette) had five saves for the Titans while helping out with a pair of ground balls. The Westminster defense limited W&J to 10 shots on goal in the win. LaRochelle finished with two goals in the loss. Freshman Sam Lenfesty (Frederick, Md. | Frederick) totaled 15 saves and five ground balls for the Presidents. |
| Tuesday, April 30 |
PAC Championship Tournament [Semifinal 1]
No. 4 Saint Vincent at No. 1 Westminster
Burry Stadium--New Wilmington, Pa. |
Result: Westminster 18, Saint Vincent 8
Box score |
Junior Margo Mason (Pittsburgh, Pa. | Chartiers Valley) paced Westminster Wednesday with seven goals and an assist. She finished 4-for-7 on free position shots while adding seven caused turnovers, four ground balls and three draw controls. Westminster jumped out to an 11-4 halftime lead, but after the Titans went up 12-4 on Mason's man-up score with 26:57 remaining in the second half, Saint Vincent posted three-straight scores to to pull to within five (12-7). Westminster outscored the Bearcats 6-1 over the final 22:36 to secure the semifinal win. Junior Bria Braddock (Beaver Falls, Blackhawk) and sophomore Marisa Keller (Canonsburg, Pa. | Canon-McMillan) each finished with a match-high eight ground balls. Braddock added five goals and an assist to go along with eight draw controls and six caused turnovers. Senior Emily D'Amico (Moon Township, Pa. | Moon) added three goals and a pair of assists. Saint Vincent senior Naomi Schwaiger (Greensburg, Pa. | Greater Latrobe) led the Bearcats with three goals and an assist. Freshman Joey Smith (Stevensville, Md. | Gunston School) chipped in with two goals and an assist. Senior Maria Franey (Export, Pa. | Franklin Regional) totaled 14 saves for the Bearcats while logging a team-high six ground balls. |
|
| Tuesday, April 30 |
PAC Championship Tournament [Semifinal 2]
No. 3 Franciscan at No. 2 W&J
Alexandre Stadium--Washington, Pa. |
Result: W&J 12, Franciscan 7
Box score |
W&J overcame an early first half deficit to secure its spot in Saturday's title match. Down 2-0 with just under 28 minutes remaining in the opening half, the Presidents outscored Franciscan 8-0 over the ensuing 16:40 to snag an 8-2 lead. Junior Rae LaRochelle (East Sandwich, Mass. | Sandwich) rifled in four scored and assisted on another during the stretch. LaRochelle finished the match with five goals, two assists, eight draw controls and a pair of ground balls. Sophomore Sofiya Bobrovnikova (Philadelphia, Pa. | Northeast) chipped in with two goals, two assists and two ground balls. Freshman Sam Lenfesty (Frederick, Md. | Frederick) improved to 6-0 in net for W&J this season, totaling 11 saves and five ground balls in the victory. Senior Allison Onslow (Erie, Pa. | Villa Maria Academy) registered a match-high six ground balls to go along with three caused turnovers. Freshman Grace Deegan (Akron, Ohio | Stow) led Franciscan with five points on three goals and a pair of assists. She also finished with six draw controls and four ground balls. Senior Carly McDonald (New Market, Minn. | Lakeville South) finished with three goals and an assist. Senior Elizabeth Jordan (West Milford, N.J. | Mary Help of Christians) and sophomore Maddy Smith (Alexandria, Va. | Bishop Ireton) added four ground balls each. Senior Brittany Bain (Lexington Park, Md. | St. Mary's Ryken) stopped 10 shots in net for Franciscan. |