Tribunes drop Anne Arundel, advance to title game

ROCHESTER - The MCC women's lacrosse team raced to a 10-goal lead at the half and never looked back in a 23-8 victory over Anne Arundel Community College in the semifinals of the NJCAA national tournament Saturday afternoon.

The Tribunes (11-0) will face Harford Community College at 1 p.m. Sunday for the national title. Monroe will be vying for their sixth straight championship and eighth overall.

Tied at one in the opening minutes, MCC rattled off four straight in a span of just over three minutes to take control. Brittany Chamberlain scored three of the goals, which was part of a five-goal first half for the freshman midfielder. 

The lead was still four at 7-3 when Monroe went on a 7-0 run. Sarah Shaffer got the spurt started off a feed from Se'Anna Beikirch, before Janee DeLuca pumped in two of her own. 

Kenzie Donahue found the back of the cage to make it 11-3, and Chamberlain tacked on two more before Shaffer scored to end the run she started. The Riverhawks got one back in the final seconds, but Monroe led 14-4 at the break.

The Tribunes continued the pressure in the second half. DeLuca added three more scores, and Donahue and Maliah Benedetto had two each as Monroe outscored Anne Arundel 9-4 over the final 30 minutes to clinch the victory.

DeLuca led the way with six goals and two assists on the day. Chamberlain scored five goals, Donahue finished with four, and Benedetto and Kyrsten Stone added two goals and two assists apiece. Adriana Williams had two goals and one assist.

Jessica Covell made six saves to anchor the Monroe defense. MCC pressured Anne Arundel into 25 turnovers on the game, with Tsiotenhariio Herne forcing three Riverhawk miscues herself. Chloe Wormsley and Emma Moulton added two caused turnovers each.

Sofia Michael scored five goals for Anne Arundel. Alyssa Baronella-O'Toole added two goals, while Madeline Szanyi had a goal and two assists.