Women's Lacrosse | 5/9/2024 11:17:00 AM
PITTSFORD, NY – The St. John Fisher University women's lacrosse team heads to Middlebury College in Vermont this weekend for the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship tournament.
The Cardinals face Endicott on Saturday, May 11, at 1:00 P.M., and with a win would play host Middlebury in the second round on Sunday at 1:00 P.M.
Here's what you need to know:
About The Regular Season
Fisher went 11-7 this regular season, including a perfect 6-0 in the Empire 8 conference. Although the team started the season slow with four losses (including three that were by just one point), they recovered to go 11-3 the rest of the way en route to their 12th straight Empire 8 title.
Tournament History
The Cardinals have gone to the NCAA tournament 13 times previously, with their best showing a final four appearance in 2021. Last season, the Cardinals won their opening game against Mount Union before falling to No. 3 seed William Smith.
Know Your Foe
The Endicott College Gulls enter the tournament with an overall record of 12-7, including a 6-1 mark in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, where they won their first title since 2019.
Located out of Beverly, Massachusetts, the Gulls are led offensively by Kiana Napolitano. The graduate student was the top Gull in points (96), goals (57), and assists (39). Senior Lydia Atkins was their main goalie, finishing the season with a goals-against-average of 9.55 while making 157 saves.
This will be Fisher's first game ever against Endicott.
Fun Fact: Endicott was originally founded as a two-year school for women.
Salute to Sydney
Junior midfielder Sydney Carpenter enters the tournament after winning the MVP award of the Empire 8 tournament and the conference's Offensive Player of the Year award. She led the Cardinals in goals (42), assists (26), and points (68) during the regular season.
The three-time All-Conference First Team selection finished the regular season second in the conference in assists per game (1.63) and tied for second for points per game (4.25). Playing against conference foes, she was even better, leading the Empire 8 in 6.17 points per conference game while placing second in both goals per conference game (3.67) and assists per conference game (2.50).
The Lowney Ranger
Sophomore Maddie Lowney won the Defensive Player of the Year award and a spot on the Empire 8 All-Conference First Team this week after leading Fisher with 33 caused turnovers and 50 ground balls. Lowney was a key part of a Fisher defense that allowed only 116 goals all year: the lowest in the conference.
In addition, the Maryland native placed third in the conference in caused turnovers per game (2.06) and ground balls per game (2.06), and sixth in draw controls per game (4.00).
What Comes Next
A win against Endicott would send the Cardinals into the second round, where they'd play the host team, the Middlebury University Panthers, at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday. Middlebury is the undefeated number one seed in this year's tournament bracket.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and YouTube
EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA
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