Stonehill finished the 2005 season undefeated with a 13-10 victory over West Chester in the Division II Women's Lacrosse Championship game May 15 at West Chester.

Stonehill's final record was 21-0. West Chester finished the season 17-2, and both losses were at the hands of Stonehill. The Golden Rams finished second in 2004, too.

Stonehill scored four times in the first five minutes, jumping out to a 4-0 lead off goals from seniors Colby Confer and Colette Carpenter, junior Erin Acone and sophomore Tracey Hoffman. West Chester's Caitlin Pettit answered with an accurate shot with 13:38 remaining in the first half.

The Golden Rams closed the gap to two late in the first half, but a second goal from Hoffman made the score 7-4 for Stonehill at the break.

Less than a minute into the second half, Golden Rams junior Katelyn Martin scored to close the gap to 7-5. But Stonehill scored three straight goals after that, two from Kristin Darrell and another from Carpenter. The teams traded goals until West Chester rallied with four unanswered goals in just more than three minutes of play. With a little more than four minutes left in the game, Stonehill led, 11-10.

In the span of 20 seconds, though, Confer and teammate Courtney Duggan each scored to make the final tally 13-10.

"They (the players) carried me today," said Stonehill coach Michael Daly. "To finish undefeated and as the national champions is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of everyone on this team. They earned it, and they deserve all the credit for it."

Stonehill snapped West Chester's home winning streak of 19 games and won its second Division II title.

Stonehill's victory is the first for a road team in the championship game. The 2001 and 2004 championships were conducted at neutral sites.

Stonehill also is the first team to win the championship twice, having previously won in 2003. West Chester, winner in 2002, has now been runner-up three times. C. W. Post, the only institution to be a part of the championship every year since its inception in 2001, was not in the tournament in 2005. C.W. Post is now tied with Stonehill and West Chester for the most appearances with four.

Semifinals

West Chester scoring: Kirstin McGoldrick 4, Katelyn Martin 4, Tara Wagner 3, Christine Kane 3, Caitlin Pettit 2, Christa Somits 1, Neilly Oliver 1, Danielle Roy 1, Maolly Halberstadt 1.

Lock Haven scoring: Jenna Richter 3, Caitlin LaBonte 2, Caitlyn Watts 1, Stephanie Wood 1.

Shots: West Chester 45, Lock Haven 21. Goalkeeper saves: West Chester (Chelsea Marshall) 13; Lock Haven (Kimberly Allan) 16.

Stonehill scoring: Colby Confer 5, Erin Acone 5, Tracey Hoffman 1, Kristin Darrell 1, Christa LaRocco 1, Courtney Duggan 1, Colette Carpenter 1, Jenny McGrath 1.

Adelphi scoring: Katherine Hock 4, Diana Lopez 2, Dawn Anselmin 2, Janet Sica 1, Meghan Blume 1.

Shots: Stonehill 27, Adelphi 24. Goalkeeper saves: Adelphi (Grace Monjardo) 7; Stonehill (Lauren Stone) 11.

Championship game

Stonehill scoring: Colby Confer 3, Tracey Hoffman 2, Kristin Darrell 2, Colette Carpenter 2, Courtney Duggan 2, Jenny McGrath 1, Erin Acone 1.

West Chester scoring: Kirstin McGoldrick 4, Katelyn Martin 3, Neilly Oliver 1, Caitlin Pettit 1, Christa Somits 1.

Shots: Stonehill 30, West Chester 30. Goalkeeper saves: Stonehill (Lauren Stone) 10; West Chester (Chelsea Marshall) 8.