Emerson Upends Norwich To Win GNAC Championship

Emerson College rode the six goal barrage of tournament MVP Maeghan Ross (So., Wrentham, Mass.) to defeat Norwich University 16-8 in the 2009 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament.

Top seeded Emerson jumped on top quickly, scoring the game's first three goals. Laura Miley (So., Cranston, R.I.) led off the run with an unassisted tally just 32 seconds into the game. Amy Gervis (FY, Randolph, N.J.) scored the first of her three goals at the 2:57 mark, and Katie Dodge (So., West Newbury, Mass.) added the Lions third marker 18 seconds later.

Kacey Abbriano deposited the Cadets' first goal just under five minutes into the game, but Emerson went on a seven goal run highlighted by three Ross scores to give the Lions a 10-1 lead.

Emerson extended the lead to 13-2 just before halftime when Norwich countered with goals by Abbriano and Ally Daniels to forge a 13-4 halftime advantage for the Lions.

Ross opened the second half scoring with an unassisted tally just 1:45 into the half and was countered by a Daniels goal. Dodge then nettted her third goal of the game followed by a Monica Carroll (So., Reading, Mass.) tally on an assist from Ross.

Katie Peters (So., Acton, Mass.) netted her second goal of the game to give Emerson a 17-5 lead but Daniels scored three of four consecutive Norwich goals to draw the Cadets to within 17-9. Dodge finished the scoring to give Emerson its first title ever in women's lacrosse.

In addition to Ross, the All-Tournament team consisted of Peters, Dodge, Meg Robinson (Jr., Erdenheim, Pa.), and goal keeper Kristen DeTroia (FY, Bridgewater, N.J.) from Emerson; Daniels, Danielle Del Dotto, and Dawn McNulty from Norwich; Caitlyn Murphy and Andrea Ward of Lasell College, and Alyssa Marchant and Lauren Hagerman of St. Joseph's College.

Courtesy: Emerson College Athletic Communications