CORTLAND, N.Y. - Western New England College scored the first goal, but No. 9 Cortland dominated after that for a 16-4 victory in a first round game of the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship Wednesday afternoon (May 9) at the Stadium Complex.
The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead over the heavily favorite Red Dragons when sophomore Lindsey Fenton (Amherst, MA) collected her 60th goal of the season only 1:46 into the contest.
Cortland (15-3) scored the next 13 goals to take a commanding 13-2 advantage at intermission. Senior Ali Bourgal (Sachem, NY) and freshman Jessie Fritz (Baldwinsville, NY) each tallied four goals for the hosts who ran their winning streak to 13 games. Senior Andrea Venditti (Baldwinsville, NY) contributed two goals and two assists.
Fenton supplied most of the Golden Bears' offense finishing with three goals and an assist. Her 62 goals were one shy of the school record set last year by teammate Kayte Devine (New Fairfield, CT).
Senior Audrey Kelton (Wilder, VT) had the other goal while senior Jess Vogel (Tonawanda, NY) added an assist in their final game. Junior goalie Emilie Donka (White River Junction, VT) made eight saves.
Western New England College (14-6) earned its trip to the national tournament by winning the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Championship title with a 14-10 victory over Worcester State last Saturday (May 5) in Springfield. This was the Golden Bears' fourth consecutive appearance (and fifth overall) in the NCAA Tournament.
Cortland, the nine-time SUNYAC champion, will meet two-time defending national champion The College of New Jersey in a four-team regional tournament Saturday (May 12) in Middlebury, Vermont.
Scoring Summary
Western New England College (14-6) 2 2 - 4
Cortland (15-3) 13 3 - 16
Western New England College
Goals: Lindsey Fenton 3, Audrey Kelton
Assists: Lindsey Fenton, Jess Vogel
Saves: Emilie Donka 6
Cortland
Goals: Ali Bourgal 4, Jessie Fritz 4, Gina Fazio 2, Andrea Venditti 2, Jennifer Willis 2, Elizabeth Acee, Jill Battaglia
Assists: Andrea Venditti 2, Elizabeth Acee, Gina Fazio, Jennifer Willis
Saves: Deanne Abell 5 (2 goals, 44 minutes, 35 seconds), Michelle Zimmer 0 (2 goals, 25 minutes, 25 seconds)
