Frostburg State University Athletics

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team booked their spot in the MEC Championship Game with a 17-9 home semifinal victory over Wheeling on Thursday evening.
 
FSU entered as the co-regular season champions, earning the one seed by way of a tiebreaker, sporting an overall record of 14-3 and a conference mark at 9-1. Fourth-seeded WU won their play-in game over five seed Davis & Elkins, going 10-8 on the year and 6-4 in MEC play.
 
Defense controlled the first four minutes of the opening period, as both sides' first possessions resulted in turnovers, as Giavonna Perkins made a trio of saves in goal for the Cardinals. After Frostburg was shown a green card, sophomore Liz Amos stepped up to keep out Trinity Rose on a shot, who was given a card of her own, as at the other end, senior Neila Haney passed inside to classmate Emily Lamoreaux to fire home. Just 40 seconds later, Rose took the resulting draw and passed to Sophia Cirone to tie things at 1-1.
 
With Wheeling earning another draw, Amos stepped up once more on a save, as the freshmen connection of Maddie Russell to Delaney Burrows put the Bobcats back ahead. Junior Maya Mosslih then caused a turnover, leading to Burrows making it back-to-back scores on an assist from senior Sydney Stone for a 3-1 score. Through the next six minutes, each team turned the ball over twice while Amos continued to impress in goal, paving the way for a chaotic final 120 seconds. Russell went behind the goal on a solo run to grow the lead out to two, then Haney passed to Stone from the right side, however the Cardinals would have the final say of the quarter, with Klara Domachowska racing in on net to make it 5-2.
 
In a quick start to the second frame, Amos produced another stop while Mosslih picked up another CT, as Haney was able to net a solo goal before Cirone responded for a 6-3 score. With WU looking to push closer, Amos stood tall on a free position shot, then Haney intercepted a pass from Perkins, quickly finding the back of the net in transition to lead by four. Frostburg looked to push their advantage further with one shot high, another hitting the post, and the third stopped by Perkins, as Amos continued her standout defense with a caused turnover and a trio of saves.
 
Senior Izzy Kelly and Burrows ensured that Wheeling couldn't cut into the deficit with caused turnovers, while Perkins denied another FSU shot. With the Cardinals being shown a non-releasable yellow card, the Bobcats were able to take full advantage, as Haney found Lamoreaux before senior Daniella Boss netted a free position goal to head into the half up 9-3.
 
Perkins had an early save on freshman Avery O'Hara coming out of the break, as Rose found the back of the net to pull within five. Frostburg was able to survive a two-minute yellow card, being helped out by a Wheeling turnover, as Burrows converted a free position while Boss found Haney out of a WU card to go up 11-4. Over the next four minutes, Lamoreaux and Haney each caused turnovers while Russell and Haney put home solo efforts to extend the lead out to nine.
 
The Cardinals weren't able to generate any offensive possessions, going the final 12 minutes of the period without a shot, while turning the ball over on five times. Perkins stopped the bleeding momentarily with a pair of saves, however FSU continued their domination with Haney netting again followed by Burrows finding junior Gianna Leonardi for a 15-4 lead going to the fourth.
 
Haney took the draw and held possession going to the final frame, as Stone converted from the 8-meter within the first minute. Amos was called into action either side of Rose breaking the WU goal drought, as Mossih helped stave off a woman-down disadvantage. The Cardinals found their offensive stride over the next three and a half minutes, as Rose took over the scoring with back-to-back goals, then turned provider to Jovie Noack for a 16-8 score.
 
O'Hara was able to restore some balance with a draw control, allowing Haney to pick up a loose ball off a shot that hit the crossbar to put past Perkins. Still Wheeling wouldn't be deterred, as Cirone found Julia Daniels on the left side to get back within eight. The WU rally would be cut short, as Boss ensured the visitors wouldn't get another shot away on a caused turnover, while Perkins made a pair of late saves to end the game with FSU taking the 17-9 victory.
 
Haney led all scorers with nine points on six goals and a trio of assists, while Burrows added a hat trick. Mosslih drove the defensive effort with four caused turnovers and three groundballs, as Amos made 11 saves in goal.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 15-3, while Wheeling concludes their season at 10-9. The Bobcats will next host three seed Dominican (CA) at home on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. for a rematch of last year's MEC Championship Game. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.