Lady Raiders Advance to PSAC Championship with 10-8 Victory Over Millersville
Apr. 28, 2007
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Despite trailing by four goals with under nine minutes to play in the first half, the Shippensburg women's lacrosse team rallied to score six unanswered goals and ultimately defeat Millersville 10-8 on Saturday at Robb Sports Complex to advance to the PSAC Women's Lacrosse Championship next week.
Shippensburg (8-9, 7-7 PSAC) trailed 5-1 with 7:20 remaining in the first half, but junior Kristin Crutchfield (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) and junior Brita Paul (Salisbury, Md./James Bennett) each scored to bring reduce the Lady Raiders' halftime deficit to just two, 5-3.
To begin the second half, the Lady Raiders scored three goals in the first six minutes to take a 6-5 lead with 24:11 remaining. Goals by Crutchfield, Paul and freshman Leigh Mellon (Paoli/Great Valley) gave Shippensburg the lead while the Lady Raider defense shutdown the Marauder offense.
Millersville (6-10, 6-8 PSAC) was held without a goal for a span of 30:02 which proved to be the difference Shippensburg needed to get back into the game.
The Marauders ended their scoring drought with a goal with 11:53 remaining to tie the game at 6-6, before taking the lead 28 seconds later when Joann Caminiti, Millersville's leading scorer, scored her third goal of the game.
However, junior Katie Irwin (Aston/Cardinal O'Hara) netted her second goal of the game off an assist from junior Kelly Smith (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) to tie the score at 7-7 with 9:34 remaining.
The Shippensburg offense continued to apply pressure and 1:48 later, junior Kelly Erisman (Lancaster/Manheim Township) scored on a free-position to give Shippensburg an 8-7 lead that was the first of three consecutive goals as Irwin and Mellon each scored in the next two minutes to give Shippensburg a 10-7 lead with 5:22 remaining.
Millersville's Kelly Kemper scored on a free position with 3:24 left, but Shippensburg's defense withstood a potential late rally by the Marauders to secure its third PSAC championship appearance in the last four years.
Freshman Lauren Marron (Macungie/Emmaus) made seven saves in goal for the Lady Raiders while Katie Magliochetti stopped eight shots.
Shippensburg will travel to West Chester on Tuesday in a rematch of last year's PSAC semifinal contest. Specific game details such as time and ticket information will be made available on Monday. Check back to raiders.ship.edu for the latest information as it becomes available.
- Lady Raider Lacrosse -
