FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2014
Courtesy of Adelphi Athletics Communications
SALEM, Va. – In the end, the Panthers did it with defense and goaltending, as the Adelphi University women's lacrosse team caused 14 turnovers and got six big-time stops from Taylor Hayes to top Lock Haven, 7-5, and capture the program's NCAA-record sixth Division II National Championship on Sunday in Salem, Va.
With the win, the Panthers close out the 2014 season with a perfect record - a school record 22 wins and no losses.
Alexa Froccaro led the Panther offense with three goals and an assist, while Devan Crimi tied the school record for points with a goal and an assist on the day. Rachel Aitkens also had a big day, as she scored one goal and added an assist in the win.
Ryley Weber and Camille Rosellini led the defense with three caused turnovers each, while both Rosellini and Felicia Mills had three draw controls. Four Panthers had three ground balls and Hayes made six stops, including four on free positions, in her 20th victory of the season.
The first half was a back-and-forth defensive struggle as the Panthers were held to their lowest offensive output all season with just two goals. However, the Adelphi defense came to play as well, and they pitched a shutout in the first 30 minutes.
The Brown and Gold offense came from Jackie Jahelka, who took advantage of a one-on-one match-up and used an outside roll to get free and score over the Lock Haven keeper's shoulder at the 18-minute mark. Almost 14 minutes later, Froccaro sprinted past her defender and bounced the ball past Chrissy Baffuto to give Adelphi a 2-0 lead.
The Panther defense did the rest in the first frame as they forced seven Lock Haven turnovers; five different members of the Adelphi defensive unit recorded caused turnovers. Hayes also played big as she made four stops in the first 30 minutes of action, including two on free positions, to keep the Bald Eagles scoreless.
Adelphi widened their cushion to three goals just 3:08 into the second half when Aitkens sprinted down the right sideline and behind the goal; she found a streaking Emily Keesling, who notched the Panthers' third goal. However, Lock Haven fired back and scored two goals of their own to get within one, 3-2, with 21:55 left in the contest.
Froccaro tallied her second goal of the game three minutes later to push Adelphi's margin back to two but the Bald Eagles scored two more, this time just 36 seconds apart, to tie the game at 4-4 with 16:32 to play. Less than three minutes later, Crimi stepped up and scored her first and only goal of the game on a free-position to put the Brown and Gold back on top, 5-4. Froccaro then completed her hat trick, as she scored an unassisted goal with 8:50 on the clock to give Adelphi a little breathing room at 6-4.
Lock Haven still had a lot of fight left as the Bald Eagles scored again less than two minutes later to pull back within one goal, 6-5. However, the Panthers managed to do just enough to come away champions, and Aitkens iced the game with 4:23 to play. She scored off of a Forccaro assist to give the Panthers their final margin of victory at 7-5.
This was the second meeting all-time between these teams with the previous contest coming in May of 2009 on the same field, also in the National Championship game. The Panthers came out on top that day as well, 16-4.
Quotes:
Coach Grella:
"I want to say congratulations to Lock Haven University. They did an amazing job today for 60 minutes and had us on the ropes. I'm sure that their coaching staff is proud of them and that we'll see them around very soon."
"I think that anytime you play for a National Championship, issues are going to arise that you may not have faced before. But, our kids rose to the occasion and got the job done."
Devan Crimi:
"When you go into any game you have to take some time to figure out what the other team's defense is doing. Lock Haven possessed the ball so well that our attack was a little rushed early. But, our attack is so talented that we knew we'd break their defense eventually, given enough time."
Alexa Froccaro:
"It's a great feeling (winning a National Championship)! I've never been here before and to be on this field, in this stadium and this game is a feeling that I was told about and an experience I'll never forget. It was everything I thought it would be."
"In a National Championship game, you have to play the full 60 minutes and even if you're up, you have to keep working to stay on top."
Rachel Aitkens:
"When the starters are having a tough day, we're always there to back them up and when we get the chance, like today, Coach expects us to do our best and we took advantage of an opportunity today."
Notes
NCAA All-Tournament Team from Adelphi: Devan Crimi, Alexa Froccaro, Jacqueline Jahelka, Felicia Mills, Ryley Weber. Froccaro was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Final Four. The Panthers have won a record six NCAA Division II National Championships and are 6-0 in National Championship games.
