Tribunes hang on, advance to title game

ROCHESTER - The MCC women's lacrosse team survived a late rally to hold off Anne Arundel CC 7-6 in the semifinals of the NJCAA women's lacrosse national tournament Saturday.

The Tribunes (16-2) took a 7-3 lead on a goal by Kara Lyon (Penn Yan, NY/Marcus Whitman) with 7:15 remaining.  The Pioneers then ran off three straight, the last of which came from Meghenn Jackson (Arnold, MD/Broadneck) with 47
seconds left.

Anne Arundel regained possession after the goal and continued to threaten.  Jackson had a great look right in front with 24 seconds left, but MCC's Remle Harr (Fairport, NY/Fairport) came up with a huge save.

MCC held the ball until Anne Arundel called a timeout with 10 seconds remaining.  Out of the timeout, the Tribunes sent a long pass toward midfield, and MCC's Courtney O'Hara (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) corralled it to help run out the clock.

The teams traded goals in the first half.  Hannah Barnett (Gorham, NY/Marcus Whitman) raced the length of the field and scored just under nine minutes to give Monroe a 1-0 lead.

Karlee Zywusko (Edgewater, MD/South River) tied it four minutes later. 

Emily Peets (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) gave MCC the lead with 14:56 left in the half, and the scored remained 2-1 until late in the session.  That's when Jackson scored two straight to give the Pioneers their first lead.

Barnett then came through again for Monroe, tying the game at 3 just before the intermission.

Melissa Smith (Geneva, NY/Geneva) and Courtney Reuter (Newark, NY/Newark) scored quickly in the second half to give MCC a 5-3 lead.  Lyon then converted twice to make it 7-3.

Lyon finished the game with two goals and three assists for Monroe.  Barnett finished with two goals and one assist.  Harr made nine saves in goal.

Jackson finished with four goals and an assist for Anne Arundel.  Zywusko and Mary Milligan (Crofton, MD/South River) scored the other goals.  Brittany Kincer (Glen Burnie, MD/Glen Burnie) made 10 saves in goal.