PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - For the first time in program history, the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team will play for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship after traveling to Jefferson and defeating the Rams, 14-7, in the semifinal on Thursday at Ravenhill Field.
The Wildcats (17-2) are no strangers to the postseason, making their seventh consecutive trip to the CACC Tournament Semifinals this season. The Wildcats have appeared in 14 CACC Tournaments, making 11 trips to the semifinals overall. But that is where the journey has always ended, until today.
Kirra Crowley opened the scoring with 9:48 to play in the first quarter and then scored another goal to make it 3-0. Michaella Cook tacked on a goal with 1:30 left and the Wildcats led 4-0 after the first quarter.
Anastasia Giannoulis started the second quarter off with a goal with 13:27 to play as the Wildcats scored the first five goals of the game. The teams traded goals for the rest of the quarter, as Jefferson got on the board with 12:17 to play in the half. Lea Rycroft answered with a goal and then Ella Royer answered another Jefferson goal with one of her own with 2:09 to play as the Wildcats took a 7-2 lead into the halftime break.
Out of the halftime break, the Wildcats extended the lead by scoring the first three goals of the quarter. Kirra Crowley, Tristan Holdsworth, and Ella Royer all scored to make it 10-2 halfway through the third. Jefferson scored the final two goals of the quarter jus 34 seconds apart, but could only get as close as 10-4 heading into the fourth.
The Wildcats put the pedal to the floor to start the fourth quarter, as Kirra Crowley and Alea Javorowsky scored off passes from Ella Royer. Royer then scored the first of two, making it four in a row for the Wildcats and a 14-4 lead. Jefferson inched back into the game with scoring the final three goals, but the Wildcats ran out the clock on any type of a comeback, winning, 14-7.
Ella Royer and Kirra Crowley were the only Wildcats to score multiple goals, with Royer going for five goals and two assists for seven points. Crowley scored four goals and added an assist for five points, adding three draw controls as well. Michaella Cool, Leah Rycroft, and Tristan Holdsworth all scored a goal and an assist, with Rycroft grabbing seven draws and causing three turnovers.
Caitlyn Welker led the defense with four caused turnovers and four ground balls. Ashleigh Lawry started in goal and made five saves while only allowing two goals. Allison Schiavone made three stops in the second half.
The Wildcats advance to the CACC Tournament Championship on Saturday on their home field, welcoming No. 1 Dominican to the WU Athletics Complex. The Chargers defeated Georgian Court, 11-7, in the other Semifinal on Thursday. Saturday's championship in Newark, Delaware, is set for a 2:00 p.m. opening draw.