RADNOR, PA – The Cavaliers will appear in their 21st CSAC championship game on Saturday, as the Cabrini women's lacrosse team secured its spot with a 21-7 win over Neumann in the semifinal round of the CSAC Tournament.
With today's victory, the Cavaliers (11-7) will host the CSAC championship game on Saturday, at a time to be announced, and will face the winner of tonight's second semifinal between number two seed Marywood and third seeded Immaculata.
While the Blue and White put on a full field display in today's win, it was the junior duo of
Liz Hoeffner and
Avery Murphy who provided the offensive spark, totaling 18 points.
Both stand on the verge of the century mark with 99 and 97 points, respectively, and could join Kelli Romano as the only Cavaliers to notch 100 points in a season.
Hoeffner scored nine goals for the third time this season and matched a career best with 10 points. Today's output gives the junior 83 goals, breaking
Lacie Doubet's single season program record of 74 goals, set in 2015. Hoeffner also moved into ninth place on the program's career goals list with 155.
Murphy added eight points on five goals and three assists to go with a game-high six draw controls.
Classmate
Emma Rodner-Tims also marked a career high with five points and four goals.
The Cavaliers were stingy on the defensive end of the pitch, holding Neumann to just 17 shots, among its fewest of the season, while the Knights recorded 25 turnovers, among its most on the year.
Senior
Jackie Neary stuffed the stat sheet, leading Cabrini with three caused turnovers and four ground balls to go with five draw controls and two points. Senior
Gabby Lee, junior
Katie Kucia and sophomore
Mattie Porter caused two turnovers each, while Lee joined freshman
Ashley Tutzauer with three ground balls.
Junior goaltender
Devon Scharf notched her 11th win, pairing seven saves and three ground balls.
The Cavaliers took control of the action early, as Rodner-Tims found the back of the net for the game's first two goals. Hoeffner then netted four goals in a three minute span, pushing the lead to 6-0 before Neumann got on the board.
The Knights' tally only temporarily halted the Blue and White scoring run, as Cabrini pushed its lead to 11-1 and 14-3 at the half.
Cabrini never allowed Neumann to get on track, as the Knights attempted just nine second half shots.
The Cavaliers also scooped 22 ground balls to just 12 for the Knights, while controlling 18 of the game's 29 draws.
Juniors Brittany Cassidy and Kaitlyn Conrad joined sophomore Courtney Petrucelli with two goals each, while junior Lydia Beckman joined Cassidy with two caused turnovers each. Senior netminder Gabby Curry recorded seven saves, while freshman Nani Espada scooped three ground balls.