Written by Andrew Capitelli (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Patchogue, NY| The St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's lacrosse team defeated SUNY Purchase 12-7 on Senior Day Saturday afternoon to secure the program's second-consecutive undefeated Skyline Conference regular season championship and locked up the #1 seed in the conference tournament this coming week.

The Golden Eagles—who increased their winning streak to nine games with the victory—wrap the regular season with an 11-4 (7-0 Skyline) record while the Panthers finish with a 9-3 (5-2 Skyline) mark.

Seniors Jessica Cordano (3 goals, 6 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers) and Heather Ferchland (2 goals, 1 assist, 4 ground balls, 5 caused turnovers), along with sophomore Jenna Kelleher (3 goals, 2 assists) powered the SJC offense while freshman keeper Lindsay Ramos (5 saves) earned her 11th victory of the season in the cage.

Purchase's Emma Porter opened the scoring 4:52 into the game but Stoppelli and Kelleher's successive tallies five minutes later saw the hosts in front at 20:37. Porter potted her second at 19:52 with a man-advantage to knot the game at two, but the SJC response came in the form of Ally Johnston and Cordano marks at 15:46 and 15:14.

A pair of goals from Kelly Turtell at 12:02 and 10:30 tied the game once more (4-4), but it was a 4-0 run from the Golden Eagles (Stoppelli, Kristin Carroll and Kelleher (2)) to end the half that saw the hosts take an 8-4 lead into the break.

Picking up where they left off, the Golden Eagles opened with three goals (Ferchland (2) and Cordano) in the second half to increase the Purchase deficit to seven goals (11-4) at 15:15 before cruising to the 12-7 win.

At halftime, head coach Bob Vlahakis and his coaching staff honored the team's eight seniors in Jessica Cordano, Nicole Danisi, Heather Ferchland, Briana Mascia, Katie McGarrell, Nikki Robinson, Victoria Russell and Tiffany Willms. Cordano, Ferchland and Danisi were all four-year members of the program.

The Golden Eagles begin their quest for their second-straight Skyline Conference postseason title when they host SUNY Old Westbury in semifinal action at 7:30 PM on Wednesday. Live stats will be available here.