LHU Edged by Adelphi 5-4 in OT in NCAA Championship

SALEM, Va. – The No. 1 Lock Haven University lacrosse team (20-1) was edged 5-4 (OT) by No. 2 Adelphi (21-1) today in the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship game.

With the win, Adelphi claims its second consecutive NCAA DII title. The Bald Eagles hadn’t lost since the Panthers beat them in last year’s National Championship game, which was played one year ago tomorrow.

The loss snapped Lock Haven’s 20-game win streak. LHU finishes the season at 20-1, marking the most wins in school history for a single-season.

Lock Haven advanced to today’s title match after an 11-6 semifinal win yesterday (Saturday, May 16) over Lindenwood. Adelphi beat Le Moyne 10-5, setting up today’s rematch.

Jessica Pandolf (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) was held of the score sheet, but had a major impact on the game with another tremendous all-around effort. She finished with four draw controls and two caused turnovers.

Chrissy Baffuto (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) turned in another stellar effort in goal and finished with three saves today.

Lock Haven got goals from Rachel Ward (Indianapolis/Bishop Chatard), Jenna Dingler (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township), Kelly Hamilton (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) and Jill Murray(Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville). Hamilton was fantastic and added an assist on the first goal of the game just 43 seconds in.

Kelly Close (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), Christina Hawkins (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace) and Melinda Wojt (Telford, Pa./Souderton) led another brilliant defensive effort, much like they had done in the previous 20 games.

Lock Haven led Adelphi 2-1 at halftime in what proved to be a defensive grind from the start.
Coming into the game, it was evident we were in for a battle as Lock Haven and Adelphi entered the day ranked as the top two defensive units in the country. LHU entered the day allowing just five goals per game, while Adelphi had given up 5.10 per game in the Panthers first 21 games.

Ward put Lock Haven up 1-0 just 43 seconds into the game after she took a perfect pass in stride from Hamilton. Ward quickly snagged the ball, dodged once and fired it over Adelphi goalkeeper Taylor Hayes’ shoulder.

After Ward’s quick strike the two teams settled into the defensive battle we expected. Lock Haven held the majority of the possession, but failed to score despite several good chances and a woman-up opportunity.

Adelphi finally got on the board midway through the first half. The Panthers beat Lock Haven in transition and Rachel O’Brien fired a shot far post, tying the game at 1-1 with 15:49 left in the opening period.

Lock Haven made it 2-1 with 12:14 left in the first half. Moments after LHU had a goal waved off for a crease violation – Dingler made a tremendous individual effort and picked off Hayes’ clearing-pass, before quickly jetting toward the goal. Dingler’s bounce-shot found the back of the net.

It marked the first time all season where Adelphi trailed at halftime.

Adelphi struck quickly in the second half and tied the game at 2-2 just over a minute in. Emily Keesling beat Baffuto on a free-position attempt.

The Panthers took the lead with 21:11 left in the game on a woman-down strike from Alexa Froccaro.

Froccaro was at it again less than two minutes later and made it 4-2 with 19:43 left.

Murray got Lock Haven back on the board, scoring on a free-position attempt with 15:25 left in the game. Murray’s goal cut the Panther lead to one, 4-3.

Hamilton made it 4-4 after picking the perfect time to score her first goal of the weekend. She dipped under a defender and left a second in her dust before knocking the ball home off the post. Hamilton’s goal came with 6:23 left.

Lock Haven’s defense was fantastic over the final six minutes of the game and held the Panthers without a solid scoring opportunity, which sent the game into overtime.

The Panthers won the draw in the first of two three-minute overtime periods and they milked the clock down to the final seconds and were rewarded with a free-position attempt. Felicia Mills took full advantage and scored with 11 seconds left in the first OT period.

Mills’ goal proved to be the difference as both teams swamped possessions in the second OT period.

Pandolf, Baffuto and Dingler were all named to the All-Tournament Team following the game.

Last Saturday’s (May 9) NCAA First Round win over Rollins marked Lock Haven’s eighth appearance in the NCAA DII Tournament and third consecutive trip. Yesterday’s NCAA Semifinal win marked Lock Haven’s sixth trip to the Final Four.

With the loss, Lock Haven is left still searching for its first NCAA DII title. Back in 1979, LHU was crowned the National Champion, winning the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women National Title. Lock Haven beat Hollins 5-4 in the title match.