GENEVA, N.Y. - Sophomore Robyn
Bishop scored the game-winning goal on a
free-position-shot with 33 seconds left in the second half to send
the No. 2 Salisbury University women's lacrosse team to their
second NCAA Division III national championship in the past three
years with an 8-7 win over No. 3 Middlebury in the national
semifinals.
The Sea Gulls (21-1) will have a chance to avenge their only
loss of the season as they take on No. 1 Franklin & Marshall
(20-0) on Sunday, May 20 at William Smith College's McCooey Field
at noon. The game will be broadcasted live on CSTV.
The Diplomats defeated Salisbury 8-7 in Lancaster, Pa. on March
31.
Franklin & Marshall defeated Gettysburg in the first
semifinal game, 13-7, to advance to the national championship.
The Salisbury-Middlebury game statistics were close but it was
SU's advantage on draw controls that ultimately closed the door on
the Panthers. The Sea Gulls held a 5-1 second half advantage on the
draw which includes the final one of the game that landed safely in
the stick of junior Jessica Liston.
Middlebury (16-2) scooped up three more groundballs than
Salisbury, 12-9, but the Panthers had four more turnovers on the
game, 17-14.
Salisbury trailed twice in the second half but never by more
than a goal. Junior Alexis Morrell tied the score
at six with 19 minutes to play in the game and senior
Natalie Degele knotted the game at seven with four
minutes left to set the stage for Bishop's dramatic goal.
SU goalie Sonja Stuart remained perfect between
the pipes for Salisbury as she earned her fourth win in as many
tries with a seven save effort. Middlebury's Blair Bowie also
record seven saves in the loss.
Salisbury scored the game's first goal less than one minute into
the contest as senior Stephanie Shores netted home
the unassisted strike. The Sea Gulls led by as many as two-goals in
the first half, 3-1, but back-to-back Panther goals erased the
deficit.
Middlebury and Salisbury traded the final four goals of the
first half to go into the intermission tied at five.
