Perfect Tribunes capture NJCAA national title

ROCHESTER - The Monroe Community College women's lacrosse team attained perfection for the first time in its illustrious history, capping an undefeated season by beating Anne Arundel CC 17-5 in the NJCAA national championship game Sunday.

The Tribunes finish the 2013 campaign with an unblemished record of 18-0. It's third national title in program history, with the others coming in 2010 and 2011.

A game-changing 12-0 run that spanned both halves turned a close game into a rout, as the Tribunes took control midway through the first half and maintained momentum the rest of the way. 

Melanie Murphy (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee), who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player, finished with four goals to lead a potent Tribune attack. The sophomore tallied eight goals and five assists during the tournament.

Molly Gray (Gorham, NY/Marcus Whitman) got MCC on the board less than a minute into the game, but the Pioneers responded with two goals of their own to take the lead.  Shannon O'Neal then scored twice, with her second goal giving Anne Arundel a 4-3 lead with 14:31 remaining in the opening half.

That goal was the last the Pioneers would score until just over six minutes remained in the game. The MCC defense, spearheaded by tournament Most Outstanding Defensive Player Leia Hayward (Hilton, NY/Hilton), surrounded Anne Arundel and derailed any possible Pioneer opportunity,

The Tribune attack then closed the first half with seven unanswered goals and started the second half with five straight. Gray scored four goals during the run, and Murphy and Keirsten MacLellan (Baltimore, MD/Seton Keough) had three each.

Gray finished with five goals and an assist on the day, and MacLellan added three goals, two assists, and seven draw controls. Courtney Reuter (Newark, NY/Newark) chipped in with two goals and four assists.

Hannah Barnett (Gorham, NY/Marcus Whitman) and Elizabeth Lacomb (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) had one goal and one assist apiece. Barnett added eight ground balls. Alexis Wilensky (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) also scored for Monroe.

Caitlin Cavallaro (Corning, NY/Corning East) made six saves in the cage.

Meghenn Jackson had two goals and one assist and O'Neal scored twice for Anne Arundel. Kayla Hertz added a goal, and Brittani Biddinger made six saves. Jackson, O'Neal, Biddinger, and Sara Boothe represented the Pioneers on the all-tournament team.

Barnett, Reuter, Gray, MacLellan, and Cavallaro made the all-tournament team for Monroe. 

Harford's Sara Lebrun and Onondaga's Danielle Falck and Claire Wigler were also named to the all-tournament team.

MCC head coach Craig Chamberlain was named Coach of the Tournament.