MCC claims sixth straight regional title

ROCHESTER - Monroe Community College claimed its sixth consecutive Region III women's lacrosse championship with a 16-8 win over Onondaga Community College on John L. DiMarco Field Sunday afternoon.

The Tribunes (13-0), who have now won 81 straight games, advance to next week's NJCAA national tournament in Arnold, Md. on the campus of Anne Arundel Community College. MCC will be seeking its fifth straight national title.

Monroe will face Anne Arundel in the national semifinals at 11:30 a.m. next Saturday, May 13. Onondaga will face Howard in the other semifinal.

Adriana Williams led a balanced Monroe attack with three goals and tournament MVP Dana Isaacs added two goals and an assist for the Tribunes. MCC led 10-6 at the half before yielding just two OCC scores over the final 30 minutes.

Onondaga got on the board first as Bridget Moore scored just over two minutes in for a 1-0 Lazer advantage. Isaacs tied it up with a free position score, and Kendall Skuse gave the Tribunes their first lead at 2-1 off a perfect feed from Janee DeLuca.

The Lazers evened it before Monroe scored three straight to regain the momentum. The highlight of the run was the final goal, as Kendall Jones picked off a clear attempt by Lazer goalie Makenzie O'Brien right on the cage's doorstep. Jones then made a couple of quick shot fakes before scoring to make it 5-2.

The lead was 6-4 when MCC reeled off four straight. Christie Hahn scored on a free position effort and Skuse followed with her second of the game. Williams and DeLuca tacked on goals to make it 10-4.

Victoria Thompson kept Onondaga close, tallying twice in the final minutes of the first half to cut the lead to 10-6 at the break.

The teams exchanged goals early in the second half to make it 11-7 in favor of Monroe. The scoring halted at that point, as the contest became disjointed with a bevy of whistles and yellow cards.

After nearly 10 minutes without a tally, Williams restored order with a goal off a pass from Morgan Hollenbeck to make it 12-7. The Tribunes then scored four of the final five goals to put the game away.

Isaacs finished with two ground balls, two caused turnovers, and seven draw controls on the day. Her steady presence helped the Tribunes maintain possession and momentum much of the game.

DeLuca and Hollenbeck finished with two goals and one assist each, Skuse scored twice, and Hahn tallied a goal and two assists for Monroe. Taylor Excell had one goal and one assist, and Jones, Kyli-Marie Towner and Se'Anna Beikirch scored once each.

Sarah Annable finished with seven saves for the Tribunes. Ashley Salvett led the defense with three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.

Annable, Salvett, Hahn, Excell, and Hollenbeck made the all-tournament team.