Top Seeded Women's Lacrosse Set to Begin SCIAC Tourney
CLAREMONT, Calif. – The No. 22 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's lacrosse team has won 16-straight games, including a 10-0 mark in the SCIAC this season. The Athenas locked up their fourth regular season SCIAC Championship this season and have earned the top seed in the SCIAC Tournament that begins on Saturday morning when CMS hosts the Chapman Panthers at 11:00 a.m. in the SCIAC Semifinals. The Athenas defeated the Panthers by scores of 18-9 and 21-2 in their two meetings during the regular season.
The winner of top-seeded CMS and fourth-seeded Chapman will play against the winner of second-seeded Occidental and third-seeded Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday, May 5 at the higher remaining seed's field.
See below for a quick preview of the SCIAC Tournament field:
No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas – 16-1 overall, 10-0 SCIAC
CMS enters SCIAC postseason play led by Evan Murphy who has registered a team-best 68 points on the strength of 34 goals and 34 assists. Corie Hack follows with 58 points, highlighted by 51 goals, while Sally Abel has collected 43 goals and posted 48 points this season for the Athenas. Murphy also stands as the team-leader in ground balls (78), draw controls (52) and caused turnovers (66). Goalie Anna Gillespie has been stellar with an 11-0 record and 58 saves.
All-SCIAC players
Corie Hack – Jr. – A – First Team, Offensive Athlete of the Year
Evan Murphy – Sr. – M – First Team, Defensive Athlete of the Year
Sally Abel – Fr. – A – First Team
Kira Weiss – So. – D – First Team
Katie Hill – Sr. – D – First Team
Allie Hill – So. – M – First Team
Emily Cohen – So. – M – Second Team
Anna Gillespie – Fr. – G – Second Team
No. 4 Chapman Panthers – 5-10 overall, 4-6 SCIAC
Chapman is led by Stacey Zuppa's 53 points so far in 2018 which includes 37 goals and 16 assists. Danielle Zahn and Alexandra Callaway follow with 29 and 27 points respectively as the duo has combined for 49 goals on the season. Taylor Hextrum is the Panthers' main feature between the posts as the first-year net-minder has registered 104 stops so far.
All-SCIAC players
Stacey Zuppa – Sr. – M – First Team
Danielle Zahn – Jr. – M – Second Team
Shelby Thompson – Jr. – D – Second Team
Ally Kroeckel – So. – D – Second Team
Alexandra Callaway – So. – A – Second Team
When they met
The Athenas handled the Panthers in both of their meetings during the regular season. CMS earned victories of 18-9 and 21-2. Sally Abel led the Athenas across the two games with nine total goals, including a six-goal game on Mar. 21 on Zinda Field. In the last game of the regular season, CMS scored the final 15 goals of the contest to rout the Panthers 21-2 just a week ago.
No. 2 Occidental Tigers – 12-5 overall, 8-2 SCIAC
Occidental's Sierra Slack has been a key factor for the Tigers this season tallying 89 points, including 59 goals and 30 assists, while Ciara Byrne leads the squad with 73 markers and has notched 78 points. Alessandra Pelliccia has netted 43 goals en route to 54 points during the 2018 campaign, while while Slack leads the team with 46 ground balls and 79 draw controls. Goalie Neah Bois has turned away 100 shots so far this season.
All-SCIAC players
Sierra Slack – Sr. – A – First Team
Ciara Byrne – Sr. – M – First Team
Emma Barrow – So. – D – First Team
Alessandra Pelliccia – So. – M – Second Team
When they met
The Athenas swept the season series against the Tigers, but Occidental gave CMS their tightest game in SCIAC play with the Athenas earning a four-goal victory back on Feb. 21, 14-10. In the rematch over a month later, CMS jumped out to an early lead before cruising to an 18-6 victory on Apr. 7. In the second meeting between the two team, Murphy scored five goals to lead the team and Abel notched four.
No. 3 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens – 10-7 overall, 5-5 SCIAC
Pomona-Pitzer is led by Lilly Thomey's 51 goals and nine helpers (60 points), while Sarah Woo has fired in 32 goals and dished out 18 assists en route to 50 points. Sonia Olson follows with 44 points on the strength of 37 goals, while Woo has paced the Sagehens with 63 draw controls. Between the pipes, Annie Price has made 165 saves in 16 appearances
All-SCIAC players
Lilly Thomey – Jr. – A – First Team
Sal Marx – Sr. – M – First Team
Sarah Woo – Fr. – M – First Team, Newcomer of the Year
Annie Price – So. – G – First Team
Nicole Larson – Jr. – D – Second Team
Kate Immergluck – Fr. – M – Second Team
Sammy Little – So. – D – Second Team
When they met
In their two regular season meetings, the Athenas earned a pair of double-digit victories with wins of 15-5 and 17-3. Corie Hack scored four goals in both of the contests between the Six Street rivals.