Women's Lacrosse Wins 2015 Skyline Conference Championship by Defeating Farmingdale, 7-5

Patchogue, N.Y.– The St. Joseph's (13-4) women's lacrosse team captured their first-ever Skyline Conference championship by defeating Farmingdale State (10-7) on Saturday at Danzi Stadium, 7-5.  The Golden Eagles now earn the Skyline's automatic bid into the 2015 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament. 

The program led by head coach Bob Vlahakis wins their first conference title and trip to the NCAA's in only the fourth season of the program's history.  The Golden Eagles lost in 2014 Skyline Championship game to the same Farmingdale Rams by one goal. 

The NCAA selection show will be broadcast on NCAA.com on Sunday evening at 9:30 p.m. and details on the tournament will be posted here on sjcgoldeneagles.com.

St. Joseph's sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Wickline (Medford, N.Y./Bellport) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as she saved five Farmingdale shots on goal.  Her record for the season now stands at 12-4.

The Rams opened the scoring at 28:11 as Christy Thoden converted a Nicole Marzocca pass.  St. Joseph's freshman Kristin Carroll (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) answered back at 26:50 to knot it at one as the Eagles had a one-up advantage following a Farmingdale yellow card.  Kristen Ranaldo scored a Marzocca assist to make it 2-1 at 23:20.  Senior captain Caitlynn Webber (Eastport, N.Y./Eastport-South Manor) brought SJC even again as she was assisted by fellow senior Ela Igdeler (Islip, N.Y./Islip).  Junior captain Heather Ferchland (Selden, N.Y./Centereach) gave the home team their first lead at 20:18, 3-2.

At 19:16 Webber intercepted a Farmingdale pass and made them pay as she buried it in the net for a 4-2 lead and forced a Farmingdale timeout.  The scoring was quiet but the play intense for the next seventeen minutes until Farmingdale scored at 2:37 and 2:03, both by Thoden, to tie the game 4-4.  The Rams held a slim shot advantage at halftime 12-11.

Igdeler broke the ice in the second half at 23:16 putting SJC ahead 5-4 and then Ferchland put in a shot to bring the cushion to 6-4.  Another long scoring drought ended at 10:39 when Carroll found the back of the net for St. Joseph's, bringing it to 7-4.

Farmingdale made a last ditch effort starting at 6:44 as Kelley Geheran cut it to 7-5 but it was the last time either team would score.

Senior captain Nicole Lyman (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) and junior Jessica Cordano(Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) led the Golden Eagles with four groundballs and three caused turnovers each.  Ferchland also had three caused turnovers.

Scoring twice were Ferchland, Webber and Igdeler, with Igdeler registering the only assist.

St. Joseph's won the ground ball battle 23-14 and Farmingdale held the draw control edge 9-5.  Farmingdale had 25 turnovers compared to SJC's 19.