Cabrini University Cavaliers (11-7, 8-0 CSAC) vs. Marywood University Pacers (11-6, 7-1 CSAC)
Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament Final
Saturday, May 5, 12pm
Edith Robb Dixon Field

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What's at Stake?
The winner of Saturday's action will claim the 2018 CSAC championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will begin on Saturday, May 12.

Saturday's game will mark the third time the Cavaliers and Pacers have met in the final and their second consecutive meeting.

The Blue and White scored a 20-9 win over Marywood to capture the 2017 CSAC title, as junior Liz Hoeffner netted 10 goals to earn MVP honors. Classmate Avery Murphy added three goals, three assist and 11 draw controls, while a trio of Cavaliers caused three turnovers.

Junior Ashley Valway led Marywood with three goals, while sophomore Gwyneth Gleason controlled six draws.

Overall, the Cavaliers are making their 21st appearance in the CSAC championship game, including a string of seven in a row. Winners of 16 conference titles, the Blue and White is looking to secure its seventh consecutive crown and make its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Pacers will make their fourth championship appearance on Saturday. Marywood continues its drive for a first CSAC women's lacrosse title after losses to Cabrini (2012, 2017) and Gwynedd Mercy (2011) in its previous appearances.

Last Meeting: Cabrini 13, Marywood 12 (4/21/2018, Scranton, PA)
The Cavaliers completed an undefeated conference slate with a thrilling 13-12 win at Marywood just two weeks ago. Despite building a 4-1 lead midway through the first, Cabrini saw Marywood storm back to take a 7-5 lead at the half.

The Blue and White trailed 9-7 with 24 minutes to play, before the Cavaliers recorded four unanswered goals to take an 11-9 at the 14:20 mark. Murphy and senior Emily Crouse combined for Cabrini's six goals over the final 20:17 to hold the Pacers at bay.

Murphy paced the Blue and White attack with nine points on six goals and three assists to go with 11 draw controls, while Crouse matched career highs with three goals, five ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Senior Jackie Neary entered the CSAC record book, as her four caused turnovers gave her 136 for her career, breaking the previous conference mark.  The senior stuffed the stat sheet with two goals, six ground balls and three draw controls to go with four caused turnovers.

Senior Sam Bussinelli led the Pacers with four goals and three helpers, while Gleason and senior Caitlin Watson added three goals each. Fellow senior Haley Risi caused five turnovers, while sophomore goaltender Mary Leahy notched nine saves.

Cabrini Last Time Out: Cabrini 21, Neumann 7 (5/2/2018, Radnor, PA)
Hoeffner and Murphy combined for 18 points, as the Cavaliers rolled to a 21-7 win over Neumann in Wednesday's semifinal round. The Blue and White outshot the Knights 40-17 and was +10 in ground balls and +7 in draw controls.

Hoeffner scored nine goals and matched a career best with 10 points, breaking Lacie Doubet's single season goals mark of 74. Murphy added eight points on five goals and three assists with six draw controls.  Classmate Emma Rodner-Tims also marked a career high with five points and four goals.

Neary led 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.

Marywood Last Time Out: Marywood 21, Immaculata 7 (5/2/2018, Scranton, PA)
The Pacers returned to the CSAC title game in convincing fashion, as they scored nine of the game's first 10 goals in a 21-7 semifinal win over Immaculata. Marywood outshot the Mighty Macs 36-21 on the day and controlled 21 of the 29 draws.

Businelli notched a career best nine points on five goals and four assists, while Gleason paired three goals, five assists, 11 draw controls and three ground balls. Sophomore Gina Babcock added four goals, one more than senior Erin Healy.

Sophomore Molly Yelencsics anchored the defensive effort causing a pair of the Pacers' 10 caused turnovers, while Leahy tallied nine saves and a ground ball.

5 Factors for Cabrini

• Hoeffner's 83 goals and 5.19 goals per game rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in Division III. Murphy ranks 19th with 70 goals, while both rank among the nation's leaders with 99 and 97 points, respectively.
• Cabrini has caused at least nine turnovers in 16 of its 18 games this season, including each of the last 15.
• Neary ranks 21st in the country with 3.06 caused turnovers per game, while Murphy's 7.11 draw controls are good for 23rd.
• The Blue and White boasts the CSAC's highest scoring offense, as it its 15.67 goals per game also rank 31st in the nation.
• Cabrini is 10-1 when securing more ground balls than its opponent, but 1-5 when it does not.

5 Factors for Marywood

• Leahy leads the CSAC with a 9.16 goal against average, while her .412 save percentage ranks fifth.
• Six Pacers have recorded north of 20 goals on the season, with Bussinelli (53) and Gleason (38) leading the way. The duo also leads the team in assists (35, 23) and points (88, 61).
• Gleason controls the draw circle, controlling 93 draws on the season, 55 more than the next player, senior Caitlin Watson who has 38.
• Marywood has recorded at least 30 shots over its last 10 games and 14 times this season. The team is 11-3 in those games.
• The Pacers' defensive pressure has forced their opponents into at least 18 turnovers in all 17 of its contests.

 

	TALE OF THE TAPE
Cabrini		Marywood
11-7, 8-0 CSAC	Record	11-6, 7-1 CSAC
282	Goals	251
117	Assists	115
601	Shots	566
281	Draw Controls	227
414	Ground Balls	445
233	Caused Turnovers	180
.395	Free Position Percentage	.398
.337	Save Percentage	.406
	TEAM LEADERS
Liz Hoeffner (83)	Goals	Sam Bussinelli (53)
Avery Murphy (27)	Assists	Sam Bussinelli (35)
Liz Hoeffner (99)	Points	Sam Bussinelli (88)
Avery Murphy (128)	Draw Controls	Gwyneth Gleason (93)
Jackie Neary (53)	Ground Balls	Molly Yelencsics (48)
Jackie Neary (55)	Caused Turnovers	Molly Yelencsics (28)
Devon Scharf (.355)	Save Percentage	Mary Leahy (.412)