May 6, 2006

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - Junior Lauren LoMonaco (Massapequa, N.Y.) scored the winning goal with two seconds remaining to lift #2 C.W. Post past #1 Adelphi University, 14-13, in double overtime this afternoon at Stiles Field. The Panthers pick up their first loss of the season to drop to 14-1 and 4-1 in the NYCAC. The Pioneers improve to 16-1 and win the NYCAC Regular season title with a perfect 5-0 record.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead with senior Masina Longo (Bay Shore, N.Y.) striking first on an assist from junior Shannon Fabian (Rocky Point, N.Y.) in the second minute. LoMonaco tallied the first of her two goals in the fourth minute to make it 2-0. Freshman Rachel Ray (Rocky Point, N.Y.) used a free position shot to put the Panthers on board before junior Tara Grodotze (Rocky Point, N.Y.) knotted the score, 2-2, on a feed from senior Dawn Anselmin (Lynbrook, N.Y.) with 19:46 remaining. Both teams traded goals before Anselmin registered back-to-back goals to give the Panthers their first lead, 5-4, in the 21st minute. Junior Meghan Blume (Bel Air, MD) made it a 6-5 lead on an unassisted goal at 6:29. The Pioneers took advantage of two free position shots in the remaining minutes to tie the game for the fourth time, 6-6, to end the half.

Spurred by a free position goal by junior Lauren Lopez (Farmingville, N.Y.) to open the half, Adelphi rattled off four unanswered goals. Trailing, 10-6, C.W. Post answered with a 3-0 run to close to within one with 11:22 on the clock. The Panthers kept the Pioneers at bay, until junior Samantha Lyons (Farmingdale, N.Y.) made it a one-point game with twenty-eight seconds left in regulation. Fabian tied the game as the horn sounded on a free position shot to force overtime.

After a scoreless three minutes, sophomore Mallory Poole (Corning, N.Y.) gave the Pioneers the advantage in the 34th minute. Blume tied the game at 13-13, for her fourth goal of the day on an assist from junior Diana Lopez (Farmingville, N.Y.) with twenty seconds to go.

The Panthers were led by Anselmin and Blume with four goals and one assist each. Sophomores Elaine Williams (East Islip, N.Y.) and Colleen Agostinachio (Bellmore, N.Y.) had three goals apiece for the Pioneers.

C.W. Post sophomore goalie Lauren Scipione (East Meadow, N.Y.) recorded the win, with an impressive 14 save performance in 56:41 minutes. Senior Chrissy Esposito (East Islip, N.Y.) had one save in 9:16 minutes. Junior Allyson Murphy (Williston Park, N.Y.) made six stops in goal for the Panthers.

The Pioneers now lead the Panthers, 5-2, in their all-time series. The last three meetings between these two teams have been decided by one goal. In 2004, after a perfect 11-0 season, Adelphi fell to C.W. Post, 11-10, in its regular season finale. The Panthers rallied to defeat the Pioneers, 11-10, en route to a NCAA Championship title.

Both teams are all but assured a NCAA berth with the official selection show taking place on Sunday night, May 7, at 9:00 p.m. The NCAA Final Four takes place May 13-14, at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.