Posted: May 17, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2015
Felicia Mills scored with 11 Seconds Left in the First Overtime Period to
Lift Adelphi to its Seventh National Championship.
Salem, VA - Three times the Adelphi women's lacrosse team (21-1) has faced Lock Haven (20-1), three times it's been in the National Championship game, three times the match-up has occured in Salem, Virginia on the campus of Roanoke College and three times Adelphi has come out on top as best in the land.
This time it was by the score of 5-4 and took extra time as Adelphi wrapped up its seventh NCAA Division II Championship on May 17 with 11 seconds left in the first overtime period, off the stick of Felicia Mills.
"This was a game more people are gonna wish they saw. Two teams who didn't give an inch, both defenses played well and it could have fallen either way," stated first year Head Coach Pat McCabe when asked about the contest.
"I walked into a situation with a group of special seniors and players and when we needed a play they came through. It's always the special people that are there and make those plays and we have a lot of special people."
The narrative of the game was similar to the 2014 clash between Lock Haven and Adelphi in the National Championship. This time an offensively anemic first half led to an intermission score of 2-1, in favor of the Bald Eagles.
However, Lock Haven scored early, getting a goal froma cutting Rachel Ward just 43 seconds into the contest.
Rachel O'Brien answered back for the Panthers roughly 15 minutes later, after Taylor Hayes stopped a Bald Eagle free position, the first of three free position saves in the first half for Hayes, and sent Adelphi on the attack.
Rachel O'Brien answered back for the Panthers roughly 15 minutes later, after Taylor Hayes stopped a Bald Eagle free position, the first of three free position saves in the first half for Hayes, and sent Adelphi on the attack.
O'Brien ended up with posession of the ball on the quick Adelphi counter and spun into the lane and beat Lock Haven's Chrissy Baffuto, knotting the action at one.
Just over three minutes later Lock Haven responded, taking advantage of a Panther miscue on the clear, a pass that sailed into the stick of Jenna Dingler, who raced into the Adelphi zone and beat Hayes to put the Bald Eagles back in front, 2-1 with 12:14 left in the first half, which is what the count would be when the horn sounded on the first stanza.
The momentum started to shift in the opening minutes of the second period as Emily Keesling worked her way into position, earning a free position, which she cashed in for Adeplhi's second goal of the contest just 79 ticks into the second half.
Just over three minutes later Lock Haven responded, taking advantage of a Panther miscue on the clear, a pass that sailed into the stick of Jenna Dingler, who raced into the Adelphi zone and beat Hayes to put the Bald Eagles back in front, 2-1 with 12:14 left in the first half, which is what the count would be when the horn sounded on the first stanza.
The momentum started to shift in the opening minutes of the second period as Emily Keesling worked her way into position, earning a free position, which she cashed in for Adeplhi's second goal of the contest just 79 ticks into the second half.
Seven and a half minutes later Alexa Froccaro joined the party, scoring back-to-back goals, the first on a free position, to put the Brown and Gold on top, 4-2 and seemingly in control.
Lock Haven mustered a quick response, scoring two goals of their own, the final tally coming with 6:23 on the clock off the stick of Kelly Hamilton, knotting the game at four all. Mills would win the ensuing draw control, one of her five draw wins of the afternoon, allowing the Panthers to hold for the final shot of the game.
Lock Haven mustered a quick response, scoring two goals of their own, the final tally coming with 6:23 on the clock off the stick of Kelly Hamilton, knotting the game at four all. Mills would win the ensuing draw control, one of her five draw wins of the afternoon, allowing the Panthers to hold for the final shot of the game.
After milking the clock of nearly six minutes, Froccaro made a move toward cage and sent a shot sailing wide as time expired, sending the game into overtime.
The Panthers gained posession of the draw to open the overtime and again worked the clock down to a minute before making any movement on offense. After working the ball from side to side, Mills slipped down the middle of the Lock Haven defense, where she was right side high, by Danielle Jaycox, burying the ball in the top right corner for what would be the game winner.
Despite Adelphi winning the draw control in the second overtime period, again by Mills, Lock Haven was able to cause a turnover and get one last chance for Jessica Pandolf, which was pushed wide. Camille Rosellini forced a Bald Eagle turnover on the restart, which caused a battle in the middle of the field and essentially iced the game for Adelphi.
Froccaro led the Panthers with two goals on the day, which gives her 28 career points in NCAA Tournament play, good enough for fourth on the all-time list. O'Brien, Kessling and Mills contributed one goal each on the day. Jacqueline Jahelka caused two turnonvers in the contest, along with Rosellini, while Mills grabbed five draws and Weber picked up two.
The Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, Hayes stood tall in goal for the second straight day, making five saves in the win, to bring her total up to nine on the weekend. She was joined by teammates Felicia Mills, Alexa Froccaro, Jacqueline Jahelka and Ryley Weber on the All-Tournament Team.
Coach McCabe put a point on his first National Championship as a coach, adding to his three as a defender with Syracuse, by saying "We didn't have our greatest day today, but it's still a great day."
The Panthers gained posession of the draw to open the overtime and again worked the clock down to a minute before making any movement on offense. After working the ball from side to side, Mills slipped down the middle of the Lock Haven defense, where she was right side high, by Danielle Jaycox, burying the ball in the top right corner for what would be the game winner.
Despite Adelphi winning the draw control in the second overtime period, again by Mills, Lock Haven was able to cause a turnover and get one last chance for Jessica Pandolf, which was pushed wide. Camille Rosellini forced a Bald Eagle turnover on the restart, which caused a battle in the middle of the field and essentially iced the game for Adelphi.
Froccaro led the Panthers with two goals on the day, which gives her 28 career points in NCAA Tournament play, good enough for fourth on the all-time list. O'Brien, Kessling and Mills contributed one goal each on the day. Jacqueline Jahelka caused two turnonvers in the contest, along with Rosellini, while Mills grabbed five draws and Weber picked up two.
The Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, Hayes stood tall in goal for the second straight day, making five saves in the win, to bring her total up to nine on the weekend. She was joined by teammates Felicia Mills, Alexa Froccaro, Jacqueline Jahelka and Ryley Weber on the All-Tournament Team.
Coach McCabe put a point on his first National Championship as a coach, adding to his three as a defender with Syracuse, by saying "We didn't have our greatest day today, but it's still a great day."
Information for this release provided by the Adelphi Athletics Communications staff.
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