SALEM, Va. – The fifth-ranked Salisbury University women's lacrosse team saw a remarkable 2024 season end in the final game, dropping a 16-5 decision at the hands of top-ranked Middlebury in the NCAA Division III National Championship on Sunday afternoon at Kerr Stadium on the campus of Roanoke College.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Erin Scannell fired in the affair's first goal, turning a feed from Alexandra Parker into a 1-0 advantage in the first three minutes. The Panthers responded with a 4-0 run to close the quarter, with Hope Shue netting a pair to help open a 5-1 Middlebury lead.
• Middlebury controlled the opening 11 minutes of the second quarter, netting five consecutive finishes including three Susan Rowley strikes to open a 10-1 lead. Miranda Mears and Meridith Price combined to sandwich a Shue score, sending the contest to halftime with an 11-3 score.
• After Kelcey Dion scored to push the margin to nine, Mears and Price combined to craft some Salisbury momentum again. Each of the two scored in a minute's time to slim the margin with 6:22 left in the frame, 12-5.
• Caroline Adams scored with 16 seconds remaining in the third period, lifting the Panthers to a 13-5 lead through 45 minutes.
• A pair of goals from Niki Mormile and a score by Maggie Coughlin brought Middlebury set the final score in the fourth.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Miranda Mears and Meridith Price paced the Sea Gull offense with two goals each.
• Alexandra Parker dished a pair of helpers in the title game.
• Natalie Held dug out two grounders and forced one Panther mistake.
• Madeline Davis forced two Middlebury miscues in the contest.
• Julianna Ott led the Sea Gulls with four draw controls.
• Kaitlyn Hunsinger was tagged with the loss, making nine saves across all 60 minutes.

MIDDLEBURY GAME NOTES

• Hope Shue scored a game-high four goals and chased down seven draw controls.
• Niki Mormile and Susan Rowley each logged hat-tricks, with Mormile adding pairs of ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls.
• Kelcey Dion tallied four points on two goals and two assists.
• Caroline Adams corralled six draw controls while finishing with three points on two goals and one assist.
• Sara Ellinghaus caused a team-high three turnovers and scooped two ground balls.
• Elizabeth Savage earned the victory, going the distance and making six saves.
• With Sunday's win, the Panthers have won 51 straight games including each of the last three national titles.

THE WRAP

• Salisbury concludes the 2024 campaign with an 18-4 overall record, winning the conference title for the seventh straight season before reaching the Division III National Championship game for the 10th time in program history.

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Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 199 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.