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WASHINGTON, D.C. (4/27/08) – For the third time in five years, the Colgate women’s lacrosse team is the Patriot League champion. The Raiders earned their latest title by beating top-seeded American, 13-8, on Sunday, Apr. 27, at Jacobs Field. With the win, Colgate earns the right to host the MAAC champion in the NCAA play-in game on Saturday at noon.

Junior Molly Carroll (Swarthmore, Pa.), who led Colgate's offense with three goals in the title tilt, was named the tournament MVP. Seniors Jessica Van der Meulen (Liverpool, N.Y.) and Lindsay Pittard (Skaneateles, N.Y.), and juniors Maddie Kearns (Chevy Chase, Md.) and Sara Drexler (Pottstown, Pa.) were all named to the all-tournament team.

The Raiders broke four Patriot League Tournament records on the weekend: most goals in a game (22 in the semifinals), most goals in a two-game tournament (35), most assists in a game (nine in the semifinals), and most assists in a tournament (12). Colgate becomes the first team in the seven-year history of the league tournament to knock off a top seed.

Colgate scored the first six goals of the second half after entering the period tied with American, 7-7. The Raiders’ first two scores came within the first six minutes of the period, but then the teams’ defenses shut down all opponent chances over the next 11-plus minutes. However, Colgate junior Ashley Didio (Syracuse, N.Y.) broke through at the 12:43 mark to put her team up by three, 10-7. Sophomore Meghan Lawler (Liverpool, N.Y.) scored twice within 3:10 to give Colgate a 12-7 lead with 6:10 to play. Sophomore Brie Moran (Little Silver, N.J.) received a pass from Didio and scored to make it 13-7 with 3:48 on the clock. Colgate did not allow American to get on the board until there was just 70 seconds left in the second half.

Drexler stopped five of the six shots she faced in the second half to help her team earn the win, and she finished the game with seven saves. AU's Kristine Vida posted four saves in each half to finish the afternoon with eight stops.

After four scoreless minutes in the first half, Colgate scored four times within one minute to take a 4-0 lead less than five minutes into the contest. The Eagles took a timeout, and returned to respond with four straight goals of their own to tie the game at 4-4. The Raiders scored three of the next four to regain the lead, 7-5, with 6:43 to play. However, American scored twice within the last two minutes, including one with 10.7 seconds on the clock, to make it a tied game, 7-7, at halftime.

Pittard, Moran and Didio all finished the game with three points, including two goals apiece. Lawler and freshman Colleen Bubnack (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored two goals each. Gina Ibello and Jackie Lane led American with two goals each, and Anne Marie Person had a game-high two assists.

Colgate outshot American, 28-22, on the day, including 13-8 in the second half. The Eagles earned a 26-25 edge on groundballs, but the Raiders dominated on draws, 16-7, including winning seven of the eight draws taken in the second half.

The Raiders will play MAAC champion Marist for the right to advance to the NCAA tournament on Saturday, May 3, at 12:00 p.m., at Tyler's Field. The Red Foxes defeated Fairfield on Sunday, 10-9, to win their first conference championship. Tickets to the play-in game will cost $5 for adults, and $3 for children 12 and under. Marist students may receive admittance for $3 with their valid student IDs, while Colgate students will receive free admission with their student IDs.