May 4th, 2023 by WCBC Radio
The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team defeated Davis & Elkins on home turf with a shutout score of 17-0 on Wednesday evening, advancing to the MEC Championship for the third straight year.
Frostburg got on the board first just over three minutes into the game, as freshman Neila Haney found the back of the net on a perfect dish from junior Anna Kearney. After a back and forth game for seven minutes, FSU found their offensive momentum, knotting three quick goals to end the quarter. Sophomore Kerri Hayes tallied one with Haney scoring two more, one off another assist from Kearney, giving her a hat-trick in the first quarter and a 4-0 Bobcat lead.
FSU quickly kept that offensive rhythm going in the second, knotting a goal just a minute and 10 seconds in. A caused turnover by freshman Jenna Jenkins led to senior Lilly Stephens earning her first goal of the game on an assist from freshman Daniella Boss. The Bobcats tacked on another goal 39 seconds later, with Stephens scoring again, this time on a free position for a 6-0 game. Defense was leading to offense for Frostburg, with Boss causing a turnover, allowing senior Cammie Schniedwind to have a chance at a free position, knotting the Bobcats seventh goal of the game. At the 5:40 mark, senior Maura O'Neill found the back of the net before Haney connected on two more goals, one on a free position and one off an assist from Badolato, the latter being her 57th goal of the season, breaking the single season scoring record for Frostburg which had stood since 1999. With the record goal in hand, the Bobcats had a 10-0 advantage at the half.
Kearney got things going on offense for FSU to open the third, quickly slicing the ball into the back of the net just 55 seconds in after scooping up a groundball. Just over two minutes later, Frostburg struck again as Badolato got in on the scoring action, having a chance at a goal off a Senators turnover caused by freshman Kristina Fardales. With 5:39 left in the third, senior Jordan Kenny recorded her first goal of the night on another free position for the Bobcats, as Stephens got her a hat-trick, scoring on another free position and extending the lead to 14-0 heading into the fourth.
Both teams played back and forth, trading turnovers to start the quarter, as Stephens would connect once again for a 15-0 lead with 6:51 left to play. Sophomore Brittyn Leondard would find herself on the stat sheet, scoring her first goal of the night off an assist from freshman Dahlia Trippel. With 1:49 left to play, Leonard found the back of the net once more off a dish from Stephens, allowing Frostburg to earn the victory with a final score of 17-0.
Both Haney and Stephens finished with a total of five points, with Haney tallying five goals and Stephens scoring four goals and one assist. Freshman Isabelle Kelly led the way on defense for
the Bobcats with four caused turnovers and two ground balls, as sophomore Nicole Gray made eight saves in goal for her first complete shutout of the year.
With the win, Frostburg improves to 11-7 on the season, while D&E concludes their season with a record of 4-14. FSU will return to the MEC Championship Game, as they will host Notre Dame College (OH) on Sunday, May 7 at 2 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.
