May 15, 2008

Box Score

Houston, TX - In the Division II National Championships Festival, Adelphi Women's Lacrosse was unable to come out on top of the Pioneers of C.W. Post in the North Region Semi-Final match. An early second half rally by the Pioneers proved to put the match out of the Panthers reach at 9-4. The Panthers end their season 16-1, while the Pioneers improved to 17-1 and advance to the Division II Women's Lacrosse finals.

The Panthers took charge immediately with Danielle Kafarski winning the game's first draw. Seven minutes later, Adelphi would find the cage first when freshman Michelle Ceraso put a well placed shot in the cage's left corner. The Panthers held control of the score until junior Jaclyn Napoli made it across the Panther's middle for the Pioneer's first of the game. Following Napoli's lead, C.W. Post connected again three minutes later with a goal by senior Jenna Miller.

The defensive battle continued for the next two minutes with both teams sharing possession. It would be sophomore Holly Burke to begin the next series with a draw control and a quick pass to freshman Kaitlyn Carter; navigating the Pioneers defense, Carter was able to place the ball in the upper-left hand corner of the net for her first goal of the day.

The momentum remained in the Panthers favor with a draw control by Senior Megan Metelenis that would led to the ball reaching the back of the net off a quick shot by sophomore Corinne Pingitore. Her goal would be called back due to a crease violation. Napoli would see that momentum halted 33 seconds later with a goal from the second hash mark. Three minutes later, however, junior Emily Simpson would respond by navigating Post's defense and finding the lower left corner of the net, putting the score at three all. Post tallied two more before the half came to a close - Napoli from sophomore Staci Passafiume and Sophomore Brianne Jackolski off a free position, shot leaving the score at 5-3.

Three goals by the Pioneers in the first 10 minutes began the second half of the game, positioning the score at 8-5. It wouldn't be until the 45th minute that pressure began to build on the Pioneers defense with two close shots by Ceraso. Her stress lead to a breakthrough at the 52nd minute by teammate Carter. The freshman navigated a heavily guarded cage for a shot to the upper right corner and her second goal of the game - score moving to 8-4. This would prove to be the last time the Panthers visited the Pioneer's net, with the final score of the game ending 9-4 after a second goal of the game by Passafiume in the 57th minute.

In her 60:00 minutes of work, sophomore Caitlin Fitzpatrick, who was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, picked up 10 saves. C.W. Post's Lauren Scipione handled 15 of the Panthers shots successfully in the win.

Highlighting the Panthers defense was senior Caitlin Hilbert and sophomore Jackie Bogensberger, both picking up four groundballs and one and two caused turnovers respectfully. "It was a new style of defense," Bogensburger had to say about her and her team's work during the game. "Everyone did really well." "It was Coach's [Spallina] defense that brought us to Texas," Fitzpatrick added. "We lost pressure against Post's offense at certain points but we all played with our hearts, and that is what really got us here in the first place," Hilbert stated about her team.

The Panthers held the Pioneers to only 5 draw controls vs. their 10, and matched their seven caused turnovers. "The season is over; there is nothing left but pain right now," Head Coach Spallina commented, "but this will drive certainly me, and also the remaining girls, for the next twelve months."

This marks the end of the Panthers strong run at the Division II national title, finishing 16-1 overall and graduating four seniors: Lauren Belle, Jennifer Fucich, Caitlin Hilbert and Megan Metelenis. An already strong junior and sophomore class will transform into an even stronger senior and junior class leaving the Brown and Gold with an excellent chance to return the Division II Championships one year from now. "It wasn't just about lacrosse this season. Twenty-seven girls became 27 sisters, and I'm proud of us all," Simpson had to say about her team. "We gave it everything we had, left it all on the field, and we can't wait to get back out their next year."

All-Tournament Team

Caitlin Fitzpatrick, Adelphi
Lauren Wise, Limestone
Katie Hogan, C.W. Post
Jackie Napoli, C.W. Post
Mallory Poole, C.W. Post
Claire Grimwood, West Chester
Stephanie Kienle, West Chester
Katy Crouse, West Chester
Gina DiDomenicis, West Chester

Offensive MVP: Jackie Baker, West Chester
Defensive MVP: Mary Beth Green, West Chester