The NCAA News - News and Features

May 26, 1997

Maryland, Middlebury women don lacrosse crowns

Terrapins' narrow win gives them third straight title

Sarah Forbes' second goal of the game, with 4:02 remaining, gave Maryland its third straight National Collegiate Women's Lacrosse Championship, 8-7, over Loyola (Maryland) May 18 at Lehigh.

The Greyhounds had several chances to tie the game, but Terrapin goalkeeper Alex Kahoe, who finished with 10 saves, squelched each try to preserve the win.

"Loyola is a great team that pushed us to the limit," said Maryland coach Cindy Timchal, who directed her Terrapins to a championship for the fourth time in the last six years. "It could have gone either way."

Maryland had jumped to a 4-1 lead halfway through the first half, but Loyola came back with three straight goals to knot the game.

The Terrapins, who led 6-5 at half time, stretched that advantage to 7-5 with 18 minutes left before the Greyhounds tied the score on consecutive goals -- the second coming from Robyn Disney, assisted by Stephanie Roberts, with 8:05 left. That set the stage for Forbes' game-winner.

Sascha Newmarch led the winners, who finished the season 21-1, with three goals. Kerri Johnson's three goals led Loyola, which ended the year 15-3.

The semifinals featured the same type of tight, defensive battles as the final. Michelle Meyer and Johnson combined for five goals in the Greyhounds' 10-8 decision over North Carolina; Forbes, Cathy Nelson and Christine Jenkins had two apiece for Maryland in its 9-6 win over Temple.

Seven Terrapins -- Nelson, Forbes, Newmarch, Caryl Duckworth, Ginette Chelious, Ryan Laubach and Kahoe -- made the all-tournament team. The runners-up were represented by Allison Valentino, Johnson, Meyers and Roberts. Other honorees were North Carolina's Sarah Dacey and Temple's Melissa Michaels.

SEMIFINALS

Loyola (Md.) -- 4 -- 6 -- 10

North Caro. -- 4 -- 4 -- 8

Loyola (Md.) scoring: Michelle Meyer 4, Kerri Johnson 3, Allison Valentino 1, Krystin Porcella 1, Robyn Disney 1.

North Caro. scoring: Lori Pasquantonio 2, Amy Fine 2, Kristen Off 2, Sarah Dacey 1, Erin McGinnis 1.

Shots: Loyola (Md.) 24, North Caro. 17. Saves: Loyola (Md.) -- Kourtney Heavy 9; North Caro. -- Debbie Castene 6.

Maryland -- 4 -- 5 -- 9

Temple -- 2 -- 4 -- 6

Maryland scoring: Cathy Nelson 2, Christine Jenkins 2, Sarah Forbes 2, Sascha Newmarch 1, Noelle Mitchell 1, Caryl Duckworth 1.

Temple scoring: Nicole Ross 2, Claudia Ovchinikoff 1, Erin Campbell 1, Carrie Bolduc 1, Carolyn Albright 1.

Shots: Maryland 24, Temple 21. Saves: Maryland -- Alex Kahoe 16; Temple -- Iris Alvarado 6.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Maryland -- 6 -- 2 -- 8

Loyola (Md.) -- 5 -- 2 -- 7

Maryland scoring: Sascha Newmarch 3, Sarah Forbes 2, Cathy Nelson 1, Christine Jenkins 1, Ginette Chelious 1.

Loyola (Md.) scoring: Kerri Johnson 3, Erin Wyld 1, Stephanie Roberts 1, Erica Attonito 1, Robyn Disney 1.

Shots: Maryland 32, Loyola (Md.) 18. Saves: Maryland -- Alex Kahoe 10; Loyola (Md.) -- Kourtney Heavey 13.