#2 Women’s Lacrosse Hosts #3 Old Westbury in Skyline Semis on Thursday
Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information)
Patchogue, NY| The second seeded St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's lacrosse team will play host to third seeded SUNY Old Westbury (7-9, 5-3) in the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference Championship on Thursday afternoon for the right to defend their conference title in the final on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles (8-8, 7-1) enter the tournament on a seven-game winning streak that was capped off with a 19-5 victory over Sage on Saturday. The Golden Eagles suffered its first Skyline Conference defeat –regular season or playoff –since April of 2014, when they fell to Farmingdale St 15-8 earlier in the season.
SJC won the two sides' only meeting of the season back on Wednesday, April 5 when Brooke Kreuscher's five goals powered the Golden Eagles to a 19-15 victory. Nicole Stoppelli and Diana Johnston would contribute four goals apiece and Kristin Carroll added with a three-goal and three-assist performance.
Look for top scorers Kreuscher and Stoppelli –who highlight the conference's third-strongest offense (11.81 goals/game) –to be the difference in this one, as the duo have tallied 72 and 67 points respectively this season. Additionally, Kreuscher ranks fourth in the conference in assists per game (1.69), sixth in points per game (4.50), and eighth in goals per game (2.81). Stoppelli slots in at third in the conference in assists per game (1.94), and tenth in points per game (4.19).
The Golden Eagle defense –which finished third in caused turnover/game (10) and goals against average (10.42) –will have to be weary of Old Westbury midfielder Sara Bey who had a five-goal, three-assist performance the last time the two teams met.
Live stats and video for the match, which is set to begin at 7:00 PM, will be available here.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 4 - Semifinals (single-elimination)
Game 1: (4) Mount Saint Mary at (1) Farmingdale State, 4 p.m.
Game 2: (3) SUNY Old Westbury at (2) St. Joseph's (L.I.), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 6- Final (at higher seed)
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, time TBA
