Lacrosse Wallops Purchase in Semi’s, Earns Rematch with Farmingdale for Skyline Title

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 12^th win.  Junior Katie McGarrell came on with 3:40 left and saved one shot.