Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/8/11
From Press Releases
Gwynedd-Mercy captured its first CSAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship with a 16-14 win at Marywood in the title game on Saturday evening.
Senior Colleen Dellostretto (Upper Moreland) was named MVP as she led all scorers with eight points on seven goals and an assist. Fellow classmate Kristie Pollock (Unionville) and sophomore Kirsten Walther (Souderton) each had three scores apiece.
The Griffinsalso captured the CSAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The win also avenges a 17-10 regular-season loss to Marywood back on April 16th.
Senior goalie Trisha Timony recorded a personal-best 22 saves as she withstood a barrage of 47 Pacer shots.
The third time was the charm as the second-seeded Griffins (11-7), who reached the league championship the past two seasons but came up short in both, now have their first crack at an NCAA Tournament berth.
Diana D’Achille scored five times for the top-seeded Pacers (13-4), who were making their first title game appearance.
After Marywood (13-4) raced out to a 3-0 lead just three minutes into the contest, Gwynedd answered with seven-straight goals over an eight minute span. The Pacers kept it close though, whittling the lead down to one goal at halftime, where GM led 9-8 after the first 30 minutes.
A key three-goal spurt midway in the second half turned out to be the difference, turning a one-goal edge to a 15-11 advantage with 15:24 to play. Walther scored two of her three goals in that span.
Kristi Mackin (St. Hubert) added a tally with 7:28 left for a three-goal lead. The Griffins were able to hold off another Pacer charge to secure the win.
Marywood outshot, Gwynedd, 47-34, and had a whopping 23-9 draw control edge.
The Griffins will know of their opponent and location on Monday with first-round action beginning on Wednesday, May 11th.
