Box Score Patchogue, N.Y. – Top-seed St. Joseph's (12-4) cruised past #4 Purchase (11-4) in the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference Championship Tournament, Wednesday evening at Danzi Stadium, 17-6. The women's lacrosse team now advances to the championship game at home on Saturday at noon against #2 Farmingdale State.
St. Joseph's and Farmingdale also played in the championship tilt last year at Farmingdale, but SJC hopes home field advantage will take them to their first-ever conference title and trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Golden Eagles beat the Rams for the first time earlier this season in double overtime, 10-9.
SJC drew first blood when junior Heather Ferchland (Selden, N.Y./Centereach) put one in the back of the net at 23:37. Sophomore Meaghan Haber (East Northport, N.Y./John Glenn) followed about a minute later to make it 2-0. Freshman Melanie Cervone (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) added a tally at 22:11 for a 3-0 lead. Junior Jessica Cordano (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) added the fourth and forced the Panthers to take their first timeout to regroup.
The Panthers got on the board at 16:32 and 15:48 with a pair of Samantha Rich goals to cut it to 4-2. Ferchland answered back assisted by senior Kacie Mitterando (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd) to make it 5-2. Senior Nicole Lyman was assisted by fellow senior Ela Igdeler (Islip, N.Y./Islip) at 7:38 and then Caitlynn Webber (Eastport, N.Y/Eastport-South Manor) continued the senior scoring again with an Igdeler helper for a 7-2 lead. Rich answered for Purchase to cut it to 7-3 at 6:15. Haber was assisted by Cordano for the Golden Eagles eighth goal. Madi Smith then put in a free position shot for Purchase with 4:27 remaining. Haber capped off the first half scoring with 0:36 left for a 9-4 halftime lead with the Golden Eagles holding a 20-7 shot advantage.
Webber opened up the scoring at 29:04 out of the break for a 10-4 mark. Shortly after Purchase's fifth goal, SJC took their first timeout. Igdeler put in a pretty shot dipping and dodging followed by a blast past the keeper for number 11 at 24:44 and the added 12 at 19:59. Haber added lucky 13 assisted by Lyman. Ferchland put in two straight to blow the lead up to 15-5 and start the running clock. Freshman Kristin Carroll (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) joined the scoring for SJC with two straight to place the game 17-5 at 12:03. Purchase got a late tally with 13 seconds left.
Sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Wickline (Medford, N.Y./Bellport) stopped two shots and picked up her 12th win. Junior Katie McGarrell came on with 3:40 left and saved one shot.
