FROSTBURG, Md. - For the third straight season, top seed Frostburg State will face off against second-seeded Notre Dame (Ohio) to determine the MEC Tournament Champion on Sunday afternoon.
How They Got Here
The Bobcats enter the game sporting an 11-7 overall record, with an MEC regular season record of 9-1. FSU started out with a home victory, but then lost its next six games, including three against ranked opponents. Conference play proved to be a remedy, as they rattled off seven straight wins before a surprise loss to Charleston (WV), then bouncing back by defeating NDC and Davis & Elkins to secure the regular season title. In the semifinals, the aforementioned Senators never got on the scoreboard in a 17-0 Bobcat victory.
The Falcons sport a 10-8 record overall, going 8-2 in the Mountain East. Much like Frostburg, Notre Dame opened with a rugged schedule to begin the season, losing its first five games, with four opponents being ranked, three in the top 10. They then won three on the bounce before back-to-back losses against No. 17 Grand Valley State and FSU. NDC ended the year strong, winning five of their final six contests, but lost their home match to the Bobcats, losing out on the one seed and requiring a win against UC to secure the two seed, which they managed. In the semifinal against the Golden Eagles, the Falcons used a stunning fourth quarter comeback to win 12-10 and keep their hopes of a third consecutive MEC Tournament championship alive.
The Matchup
Since FSU joined Division II, the teams have formed a rivalry for regular season and tournament titles at the top of the conference. The all-time series is tied at four wins apiece, with NDC taking three of the first four meetings before Frostburg returned the favor, including sweeping the Falcons in the regular season this year. However, the advantage in the tournament remains with Notre Dame, having defeated the Bobcats 14-10 and 17-15 in the previous two championship games.
The Players
Frostburg boasts the MEC Offensive Player and Freshman of the Year in Neila Haney, who leads the conference in goals (57) and points (84) and is third in assists (27). The rest of the attack is filled out with senior Cammie Schniedwind as a main provider (23 assists), helping five players to score at least 20 goals in senior Lilly Stephens (30), juniors Camden DeMaio (27) and Anna Kearney (26), sophomore Julia Badolato (23) and freshman Dahlia Trippel (23), with the latter two being named First Team All-MEC midfielders. DeMaio was named to the Second Team, while Kearney was an Honorable Mention selection. The defense is led by First Team All-MEC graduate Mackenzie Cramer (19 caused turnovers, 33 groundballs), Second Team sophomore Delaney Devers (22 caused turnovers, 31 groundballs), and Honorable Mention Isabelle Kelly (30 caused turnovers, 19 groundballs). Behind them is Second Team netminder Nicole Gray, who is second in the conference in goals allowed per game (9.89) and save percentage (.500).
The Falcons also feature one of the top offensive players in the conference, with First Team All-MEC selection Megan Dano being second in assists (38) and fourth in points (52). Joining her are a trio of Second Team honorees in Kendal Johnson (34 goals, 15 assists), Joselyn Storm (33 goals, 8 assists), and Jamira Mashore (22 goals, 25 assists). Notre Dame's defense is actually led by a midfielder, as Piper Hammond was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the MEC in caused turnovers (36) and draw controls (79). Also protecting the Falcon goal is First Team members Nia Griffith (21 caused turnovers, 21 groundballs) and Grace London (16 caused turnovers, 18 groundballs.
2023 MEC Women's Lacrosse Tournament
Wednesday, May 3 – Semifinals
#2 Notre Dame def. #3 Charleston 12-10
#1 Frostburg State def #4 Davis & Elkins 17-0
Sunday, May 7 - Championship
#1 Frostburg State vs #2 Notre Dame - 2 p.m. Frostburg, Md.
