CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally fifth-ranked Cortland women's lacrosse team jumped out to a 12-3 lead at the half and went on to defeat Norwich University, 19-3, in the first round of the NCAA Div. III Women's Lacrosse Tournament Wednesday afternoon at the Stadium Complex. The Red Dragons improved to 17-2 with the win and advance to a regional semifinal game versus the winner of Colby and Southern Maine this Saturday at Hamilton College. The Cadets had their season end at 9-8.

Senior Jess Fritz (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) led the Cortland offense with four goals and two assists. Sophomore Lindsay Abbott (South Onondaga/Onondaga Central) had three goals, two assists and a game-high 12 draw controls. Sophomore Kelly Radigan (Fayetteville/Fayetteville-Manlius) contributed two goals and two assists and senior Nicki Mahoney (Canandaigua/Canandaigua Academy), junior Bri Shost (Mahopac) and freshman Taylor Harney (Patchogue/Patchogue-Medford) each scored twice.

Freshman Gina Campese (East Syracuse/East Syracuse-Minoa) recorded one goal and two assists and freshmen Maria Di Fato (Camillus/West Genesee) and Beth Vogelsang (East Islip) had one goal and one assist apiece. Sophomore Jordan Miller (Liverpool) netted one goal, while freshman Laura Edward (Blue Point/Bayport-Blue Point) picked up two assists. Freshman goalie Ally Levy (Reisterstown, MD/Seton Keough) played the first half, and freshman Carissa Ficarro (Minoa/East Syracuse-Minoa) played the second half in goal. Neither made a save in the game.

Sophomore Kacey Abbriano (Hicksville) paced Norwich with a pair of goals. Sophomore Mollie Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, ME/Cheverus) scored once and sophomore Suzanne Whitaker (Chelmsford, MA) handed out one assist. Junior goalie Kellie Pickel (Montpelier, VT/Union-32) registered 15 saves, many of the outstanding variety on point-blank chances, and scooped up a game-high seven ground balls.

Cortland took a 4-0 lead in a three minute, 13 second span early in the first half as four diferent players found the back of the net. Fitzpatrick put the Cadets on the scoreboard with a free-position goal at 18:59, but the Red Dragons answered with a six-goal outburst from six different scorers and pushed their lead to 10-1 at the 10:14 mark. After Abbriano scored her first of the game at 8:18, Shost and Di Fato tallied back-to-back goals. Abbriano ended the first half with her second goal of the game at 28 seconds from the free position. Cortland held the Cadets scoreless in the second half while netting seven goals with Fritz and Harney each scoring twice.
 
The Red Dragons out shot the Cadets, 39-8, in the game and won 19-of-24 draw controls. Cortland held Norwich to 10-of-32 on clear attempts in the game and successfully completed 13-of-17.
 
GAME SUMMARY:
Team                                  1-2    Final
Norwich (9-8)                    3-0        3
Cortland (17-2)                 12-7    19

Scoring (Goals-Assists):
Norwich: Kacey Abbriano 2-0, Mollie Fitzpatrick 1-0, Suzanne Whitaker 0-1
Cortland: Jess Fritz 4-2, Lindsay Abbott 3-2, Kelly Radigan 2-2, Nicki Mahoney 2-0, Bri Shost 2-0, Taylor Harney 2-0, Gina Campese 1-2, Maria Di Fato 1-1, Beth Vogelsang 1-1, Jordan Miller 1-0, Laura Edward 0-2

Goalkeepers:
Norwich: Kellie Pickel, 15 saves (19 GA in 60:00)
Cortland: Ally Levy, 0 saves (3 GA in 30:00); Carissa Ficarro, 0 saves (0 GA in 30:00)

Shots: Cortland 39, Norwich 8 
Ground Balls: Cortland 31, Norwich 27
Clears: Cortland 13-of-17, Norwich 10-of-32 
Draw Controls: Cortland 19, Norwich 5
Caused Turnovers: Cortland 19, Norwich 11
Turnovers: Norwich 38, Cortland 27
Fouls: Cortland 31, Norwich 20