Women's Lacrosse: Norwich To Play SUNY Cortland In NCAA First Round

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women’s lacrosse team, the 2010 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) champions, learned late Sunday evening that it will face SUNY Cortland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday, May 12, at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex in Cortland, N.Y.  

Tickets for the game, which will begin at 4 p.m., will be on sale at the gate. Prices for the tickets have been set at $4 for adults and $3 for students.

The Cadets (9-7) are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament field, which includes just 28 teams. Norwich earned the GNAC’s automatic berth into the field after knocking off Emerson College, 13-6, in the conference tournament championship game two weeks ago.

The winner of Wednesday’s first round matchup will advance to play the winner of the Colby-Southern Maine contest on Saturday, May 15, at Hamilton College.

Norwich has been paced offensively this spring by all-conference selections Kacey Abbriano (49 goals, seven assists) and Mollie Fitzpatrick (23 goals, 10 assists). Chelsea Martin (26 goals, five assists), Kathleen Hennessy (20 goals, eight assists) and Danielle Del Dotto (20 goals, six assists) have been steady offensive contributors as well.

Kellie Pickel, who was named to the all-league first team for the second time in her career, has been solid in goal with a 10.33 goals-against average and a .505 save percentage. Ally Allen, the 2010 GNAC “Defensive Player of the Year” and an all-conference first-team selection, is among the team leaders in ground balls (53), caused turnovers (20) and draw controls (27).

SUNY Cortland (16-2) enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5-ranked team in the country. The Red Dragons defeated 20th-ranked SUNY Brockport, 10-4, in the SUNYAC Tournament title game to clinch their 12th consecutive conference crown and earn the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA field.

The Red Dragons, who have won eight straight games, are led offensively by Lindsay Abbott (46 goals, 31 assists), Kelly Radigan (45 goals, 23 assists), Maria Di Fato (39 goals, 17 assists) and Jess Fritz (35 goals, 17 assists). Ally Levy paces the SUNY Cortland defense with a goals-against average of 7.25 and a save percentage of .477.

Norwich and SUNY Cortland have never met in women’s lacrosse. To view the entire NCAA bracket, click HERE.

*Courtesy Norwich Athletic Communications