May 4, 2003

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Le Moyne College became the first school in league history to win back-to-back titles as the Dolphins earned a 9-7 victory over Marist College in the championship game of the 2003 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship this morning at Leonidoff Field.

Marist got on the scoreboard first as Brandi Peterson put in a shot from Molly Hanley about five minutes into the game. Le Moyne's Liz Hewitt responded four minutes later with her first goal of the day, assisted by Caitlin Lowie. Colleen Sperry then gave the Dolphins a 2-1 lead at the 11-minute mark. The Red Foxes would tie it at 2-2 as Kelly Sullivan posted an unassisted goal with just under nine minutes left in the first half. The Dolphins went on to score the next two goals, from Ashlyn Maguire and Hewitt, to move ahead, 4-2. Marist would score once more, with another unassisted goal from Sullivan, to close out the half down by one (4-3).

Le Moyne came out strong to start the second half, scoring the first two goals from Tara Walberger and Amanda Daniels within 14 seconds of each other at the 21-minute mark. The score would seesaw back over the next three goals until Megan Keddy and Walberger netted the final two goals of the day for the Dolphins to put them ahead, 9-5, with four and a half minutes remaining. Marist made a late-run attempt with goals from Lauren Sherman and Maria Reoch in the final 1:40 of the contest, but was unable to tie things up as time expired in the title game.

Le Moyne goalie Brandy Payne was named Most Valuable Player after recording six saves in the net for the title game, while Marist's Heather Ripp stopped nine shots between the pipes for the Red Foxes.

Joining Payne on the All-Tournament Team were teammates Alecia Audley, Sonya Kilcourse, Hewitt, Daniels and Sperry. Also on the squad were Patti Leahy, Sullivan, Hanley and Peterson from Marist and Beth Loffredo from Fairfield.

Recap: Marist (8-9, 3-3 MAAC) 3 4 -- 7 Le Moyne (12-5, 5-1 MAAC) 4 5 -- 9

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists): Le Moyne - Walberger (2-0), Keddy (2-0), Hewitt (2-0), Maguire (1-1), Sperry (1-0), Daniels (1-0) Marist - Peterson (3-1), Sullivan (2-0), Sherman (1-0), Reoch (1-0), M. Hanley (0-2)

Saves: Le Moyne - Brandy Payne (six saves, 51:06), Erica Henderson (8:54); Marist - Heather Ripp (nine saves, 60:00) Shots: Le Moyne 18, Marist 18 Groundballs: Le Moyne 27, Marist 18