MAY 3, 2017
KING'S WOMEN'S LACROSSE TEAM TRAVELS TO FACE FDU-FLORAM IN MAC FREEDOM SEMIFINAL
WILKES-BARRE, PA ---The King's College women's lacrosse team will begin play in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Tournament today when they travel to Madison, N.J. to face FDU-Florham at Robert T. Shields Field at 5:00 p.m.
The Monarchs enter the postseason tournament as the fourth seed with an 8-8 overall record and 4-3 mark in conference play. The Devils are the top seed after finishing the regular season with a 14-3 overall record and perfect 7-0 mark against conference opponents. FDU-Florham defeated King's 14-6 back on April 8th at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre. The two teams also met in last year's MAC Freedom semifinal where the Devils came away with a 14-4 victory on their home turf.
Fans unable to attend the game can follow online at the following links:
Live Stats:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/fduf/wlax/
Live Video:
http://fdudevils.com/showcase?Live=86
Gabriella Morrocu, the 2017 MAC Freedom "Offensive Player of the Year", led the Monarchs this year with 65 points on 51 goals and 14 assists with a team leading 53 draw controls.
Anastasia Araviakis, a second team selection, had 50 points on 37 goals and 13 assists while grabbing a team leading 68 ground balls and causing 43 turnovers.
Amanda Carroll, an honorable mention selection, had 44 points on 30 goals and 14 assists while
Katy Higinbothom recorded 38 points on 24 goals and 14 assists.
Kendra McCoy adds 32 points on 15 goals and 17 assists,
Tabitha Truelson has 16 points on 15 goals and an assist, and
Megan O'Brien tallied 11 points on six goals and five assist.
Kelly Pierce, a second team selection, led the King's defense that has allowed just 10.69 goals per game, which is currently the second best goals against average in program history. She scored three goals, grabbed 42 ground balls and caused 17 turnovers this season.
Brianna Zawacki scored one goal and forced seven turnovers while picking up 14 grounds balls,
Mia Dardanelli recorded an assist and 22 grounds balls with seven cased turnovers, and
Jennifer Smalley has tallied 11 ground balls and seven caused turnovers.
Victoria Zawacki has allowed 10.66 goals per game and has made 137 saves for a .446 save percentage.
The Devils are led by All-MAC Freedom first team selections Brienna Reasoner and Brittni Calleo. Reasoner was third on the team with 45 points on 39 goals and six assists while recording 45 ground balls, 46 caused turnovers, and 49 draw controls. Calleo anchored a defense that allowed just 5.53 goals per game while scoring five points on four goals and an assist and winning 21 draw controls.
Frances Maggio, a second team selection, led the Devils with 58 points on 30 goals and 28 assists while fellow second team selection Joelle Manganella was second on the team with 48 points on 35 goals and 13 assists. Noelle Shirey, also a second team selection, recorded 43 points on 28 goals and 15 assists. In goal Megan Nemeth was named to the second team All-Conference after recording a 5.56 goals against average and making 99 saves for a .563 save percentage.
FDU-Florham is the two-time defending conference champions and have won the Championship four out of the last five years. They are the only current MAC Freedom program to win a MAC or MAC Freedom title. The MAC split into the Commonwealth and Freedom in women's lacrosse in the 2012 and was played as one combined conference before then.
The winner of the game will advance to Saturday's Championship and will face the winner of the other semifinal between second-seeded Misericordia University and third-seeded Manhattanville College. Saturday's Championship game will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
