Farmingdale State - 9, St. Joseph's - 8
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State women's lacrosse team captured the Skyline Conference Championship today with a 9-8 victory over #2 seed St. Joseph's (13-5). The Rams (18-1) now receive the conference's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship. Junior midfielder Nicole Marzocca (North Babylon, N.Y.) was named the Tournament MVP after posting three goals and six assists in the Playoffs.
Farmingdale State went up 2-0 in the first six minutes with scores from junior attack Jackie Kennedy (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) and sophomore midfielder Lisa Olen (East Islip, N.Y.). St. Joe's scored four straight to hold a 4-2 advantage with 17 minutes left in the first. Junior midfielder Christy Thoden (Bayport, N.Y.) and Olen each notched a goal over the next five minutes as the Rams tied it up again, 4-4.
St. Joe's sophomore attack Heather Ferchland (Selden, N.Y.) and sophomore defender Kristine Minogue (Miller Place, N.Y.) put the Golden Eagles up by two with 1:21 left in the half, before junior midfielder Alyssa Handel (Medford, N.Y.) cut the Rams deficit to one, 6-5, with a goal at the 19-second mark.
In the second half, Kenndy tied the game at 6-6 with an unassisted goal at 22:08, but junior attack Grace Ann Fallon (Kings Park, N.Y.) responded for St. Joe's to grab the one goal lead, 7-6.
Farmingdale State grabbed the final lead of the game with a three goal spurt. Goals came from Thoden, Marzocca and sophomore attack Kimberly Pepe (Levittown, N.Y.) for a 9-7 lead with 8:53 remaining in regulation. The Rams allowed a goal with 18 seconds left, but held on for the win and their first Skyline Title since 2009.
Freshman goalkeeper Krista Spagnoletta (West Islip, N.Y.) made eight saves in the win, while freshman goalkeeper Courtney Wickline (Medford, N.Y.) made 11 saves in defeat.
Farmingdale State will now await word of their opponent during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, May 4th at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
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