Box Score
MAY, 3, 2017

TOP-SEEDED FDU-FLORHAM DEFEATS KING'S WOMEN'S LACROSSE 19-2 IN MAC FREEDOM SEMIFINAL

MADISON, N.J. --- The fourth-seeded King's College women's lacrosse team saw their season come to an end with a 19-2 loss to top-seeded and two-time defending conference champion FDU-Florham in the semifinals of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Tournament on Wednesday at Robert T. Shields Field in Madison, N.J.

The Lady Monarchs finish the year with an 8-9 overall record while the Devils advance to host Saturday's Conference Championship game with a 15-3 record.

FDU-Florham scored three goals in a span of 1:37 to take a 3-0 lead with 23:54 remaining in the first half. They were able to increase their lead to 7-0 until King's got on the board with an unassisted goal from Katy Higinbothom with 13:54 left in the half. The Devils responded with four goals from Brienna Reasoner and two goals from Kathleen Petrucelli to take a 13-1 halftime lead.

The Devils kept the pressure on the Monarchs in the second half scoring the first four goals of the half to take an 18-1 lead. Higinbothom scored her second goal of the game on a free position attempt with 12:09 left in the game to end the streak of goals from the Devils. FDU-Florham scored once more with just under two minutes remaining in the game to set the final score.

The Devils held a 41-7 shot advantage and picked up 37 ground balls compared to just eight for King's. The Devils also held a 14-9 advantage in draw controls and only committed 13 turnovers compared to 22 for King's. The Lady Monarchs struggled to clear the ball in the first half with only two successful clears out of nine attempts but rebounded nicely in the second half to clear six out of seven attempts to finish the game with a .500 percentage on clear. FDU-Florham was 13-for-14 on their clear attempts.

Katy Higinbothom scored both of King's goals on three shots. Gabriella Morrocu, Anastasia Araviakis, Megan O'Brien, and Tabitha Truelson had a shot each. Araviakis won four draw controls and caused two turnovers. Victoria Zawacki made 14 saves in goal.

The Devils were led by Brienna Reasoner with six goals, an assist, eight ground balls, six draw controls, and five caused turnovers. Noelle Shirey and Joelle Manganella recorded three goals and an assist each while Frances Maggio had two goals and an assist. Cassidy Vastano had a goal and an assist while Samantha Holleritt and Laura Cannillo scored a goal each. Megan Nemeth picked up the win in goal while making three saves.

Despite the lopsided loss to end the year the women's lacrosse team had a very successful season in Coach Ashley Stevens first year on the banks of the Susquehanna. The Lady Monarchs made the postseason for the third consecutive season and for the sixth time in program history. They also had a above-.500 record in conference play for only the second time in program history finishing with a 4-3 mark in MAC Freedom games.  They finished the year with 277 points, the third most in program history, on 195 goals, tied for the fifth most in program history, and 82 assists, the third most in program history. The team also won 205 draw controls, the fourth most in program history, and caused 163 turnover, also the fourth most in program history. Their 38 free position goals are the fourth most in program history while their eight wins are tied for the fourth most wins in a season. Anastasia Araviakis broke the single season record in caused turnovers with 45. She held the previous record with 43 in 2015.

Senior Gabriella Morrocu ends her career fourth in program history with 223 points. Her 172 goals are ranked third while her 51 assists are ranked fifth. She is also ranked third in program history with 202 career draw controls.