Lacrosse Drops Chance for Top Skyline Tournament Seed in Loss to Farmingdale

Lacrosse Drops Chance for Top Skyline Tournament Seed in Loss to Farmingdale

Patchogue, N.Y. - The St. Joseph's women's lacrosse team playing for the top seed in the next week's Skyline Conference Tournament, found themselves on the short end of an 18-10 score to Farmingdale State (16-1, 7-0 Skyline), but have many positives to take out of the loss. The Golden Eagles finish the regular season with a 12-4 mark and 6-1 in the Skyline, good enough for the #2-seed and a semifinal match-up next Wednesday against #3 Mount Saint Mary.

St. Joseph's started off the game with the first score  in the opening minute as Tori Gregson fed Heather Ferchland for the opening tally. Over the next 4 1/2  minutes, Farmingdale scored three times to take a 3-1 lead. SJC fought back and tied the game at 3-3 with back-to-back goals by freshman Jenna Kelleher to tie the game- the first a free position shot followed by a second goal off a pass from Gregson at 18:57.  

For the next 11 minutes, Farmingdale's speed and strength took over with seven unanswered goals in an 11 minute stretch from 17:27 until 6:07.  The Rams added another goal with 2:52 left in the half, but this time SJC answered back at 2:08 to end the streak and go into halftime trailing 11-4.

Farmingdale started to take control at the draw circle, and the Golden Eagles possessions were severely limited as the visitors started off the second half where they left off scoring three goals in the first six minutes for a 14-4 lead. From there on, St. Joseph's responded and fought back, actually controlling the final 24 minutes, winning that stretch by a 6-4 margin.

Cait Halloran scored a pair of goals, one unassisted and another off a pass from Danielle Dittmeier.  Graceann Fallon added a goal off a beautiful steal on the ride from Dittmeier. Ferchland scored two goals off full field runs with her midfield teammates, first from Kristine Minogue and two minutes later from Ela IgdelerJessica Cordano also beat the Farmingdale defense and drilled a hard shot into the upper corner past the goalie.  By scoring the last four goals, the Golden Eagles cut the final margin to 18-10.

Farmingdale's Nicole Marzocca led the way, with three goals and seven assists and Christy Thoden scored six goals. Kimberly Pepe ended up with a hat trick while Alyssa Handel and Lisa Olen each added two goals. Brittany Rosino and Jackie Kennedy's single goals each rounded out the day for Farmingdale.

For SJC, Ferchland had four goals, with Halloran and Kelleher each scoring a pair, and Cordano and Fallon adding in single tallies. Gregson and Dittmeier led the way with two assists each, and Minogue and Igdeler each adding an assist.

Farmingdale controlled the draws at 21-10, and also outshot the Golden Eagles by a 30-23 margin. Courtney Wickline had five saves for St. Joseph's and Krista Spagnoletta had eight saves for Farmingdale.

St. Joseph's ends up the regular season tied for their most wins ever, and will have a chance to break that mark on Wednesday in the first round of the Skyline Tournament.  Their 6-1 Skyline Conference record is their best ever.  In their first three years of existence, the Golden Eagles now hold a 20-5 Skyline Conference record and will be making their third straight playoff appearance.

St. Joseph's has never appeared in a Skyline Championship game. The farthest that St. Joseph's has advanced in the first two years is to the semifinals, and with a win on Wednesday, they will surpass that.