Easton, Mass. - An advantage in draw controls and nearly perfect day for the defense helped no. 7 Adelphi women's lacrosse return to the NCAA quarterfinals by way of an 11-4 win over no. 9 Le Moyne on Friday in the first round of the tournament. 

"We're built for solid defense and timely scoring, and when it all comes together it's just great for them, Because we're hard on them, and when they deliver and show what they're capable of, it's just a really great feeling for them," Head Coach Pat McCabe said in the postgame presser. 

Adelphi, who makes it's 16th trip to the NCAA tournament in 2022, has been on this stage before, facing the Dolphins in the first or second round of the tournament. 

Kerrin Heuser got the scoring started for the Panthers after five minutes into the opening quarter, after Le Moyne got two shots in front of Emma Lemanski. A solid clear attempt for Le Moyne saw them even the score, a result that would stand through the first frame. Another goal from each side made it a 2-2 contest after the first 15 minutes of action. 

It wasn't until Emily Beier's goal at 6:35 in the second that Adelphi had the momentum swing in its favor as they continued to win the draw control and tack on two more goals over the next five minutes. The Dolphins cut the deficit to two right before the half, after a yellow card assessed to Lillian Kolodinsky gave them a man up possession on which they capitalized. 

Opening the third quarter with her second strike of the game was Christina McCabe, who ultimately finished with a hat trick in the win, to push the lead back out to three. 

"A lot of people on this team know what it takes to win a national championship - we had leaders to show us what we have to do to get there, and I think as a team we know what we need to do and today was a great step in the right direction," said C. McCabe.

Adelphi's defense held the Dolphins scoreless for the entire second half, causing eight turnovers as a group with Alexandra Beebe leading the way with four in the game. 

Mccabe added her third to start the fourth after Gianna Bifulco concluded the third quarter with a shot past Paige Crandall, doubling Le Moyne's score. A drive down the field gave Kelly-Ann McGrath a pass to Fiona Rafferty who added another to the Panther side of the board, and Izzy Grant scored the final goal of the afternoon to make it a sure 11-4 victory. 

"There are times we're not perfect and I'm hard on them which they don't always like, but when they see what they can do on a day like this, I hope they know it's because we know they have it in them." 

The loss avenges the Brown and Gold's defeat in the conference semifinals to Le Moyne in overtime, but sends them back to the East Region Championship where they will take on top-seeded Stonehill College. Opening draw is set for noon at W.B. Mason Stadium.