Canisius Claims its Fourth Consecutive MAAC Women's Lacrosse Title
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Third-seeded Canisius College defeated top-seeded Marist College 11-9 in the title game of the 2014 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship at Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, N.Y. on the campus of Canisius College.
Marist opened up the game with two quick goals from Erin Schroeder and Tierney Larson in less than one minute to start things off. Canisius then responded with two goals from Tori Quinn to even up the score at 2-2. Jamie Romano’s first goal of the contest at the 20:10 mark would give the Red Foxes their final lead of the game at 3-2. Canisius would then go on to score the next three goals of the match before Marist would tie up the score at 5-5. A late goal by Quinn with :09 seconds remaining in the half gave Canisius the lead again at 6-5.
The Griffs opened up the half on a 3-0 run to extend their lead to 9-5, but Marist would quickly respond with a 3-0 run of their own to cut the deficit back to one point. The score would remain 9-8 for some time in the second half until Meghan Cuddy scored for the Griffs with 5:59 remaining in the game to make the score 10-8. Then just 45 seconds later Taylor Giglio netted her third goal of the contest to give Canisius an 11-8 lead and three-point cushion. Allison Gionta scored the game’s final goal with 1:35 remaining to make the final score 11-9.
Quinn and Giglio led the way for the Griffs each scoring four points; Quinn on four goals and Giglio on three goals and one assist. Cuddy scored three goals for Canisius, while senior midfielder Maria Kotas added a goal and an assist along with eight draw controls and six caused turnovers. Junior goalkeeper Kayla Scully made seven stops in goal for Canisius.
Romano led the Marist Red Foxes with three goals and one assist. Gionta and Kirsten Viscount each made two goals, while Larson and Schoeder added one apiece for the Red Foxes. Freshman goalkeeper Abigail Witczak made five saves in the goal for Marist.
The Canisuis College Golden Griffins earn the league’s automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The NCAA selection show will take place tonight at 9:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.
2014 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse All-Tournament Team:
Stephanie Anderson, Monmouth
Kelly Dalton, Monmouth
Erinn Hogan, Fairfield
Reilly Hellstein, Fairfield
Allison Gionta, Marist
Sheri Fauvell, Marist
Abigail Witczak, Marist
Meghan Cuddy, Canisius
Taylor Giglio, Canisius
Ashley Heisler, Canisius
Tori Quinn, Canisius
Most Outstanding Player: Maria Kotas, Canisius