In the lowest scoring final in Northeast Conference women's lacrosse history, second-seeded Wagner used stingy defense and balanced scoring to claim the program's second-straight title, defeating top-seeded Mount St. Mary’s, 7-6, in a tightly contested battle on Saturday afternoon at Waldron Family Stadium.
Including the NEC Tournament, Wagner (15-3) finished the season 8-1 against league opponents. The Seahawks have won six straight entering the NCAA Tournament. Wagner will find out its NCAA opponent during Sunday's selection show, set to stream live at 8 pm on
NCAA.com.
It did not take long for Wagner to strike first. Sophomore
Victoria Tucci (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) forced her way to the front of the net and fired a low shot to give the Seahawks a 1-0 lead just 2:13 into the contest.
The Mountaineers would draw even when the NEC Rookie of the Year
Jordan Groover (Germantown, TN/Hutchinson School) converted on a free position shot at the 22:52 mark to tie the game 1-1.
Wagner looked to regain the lead with 20:29 left in the first half, but All-NEC first team goalkeeper
Jillian Petito (Ocean City, MD/Stephen Decatur) made a huge point-blank save against Wagner’s
Megan Drum (Shamong, NJ/Seneca), keeping the score tied.
NEC Offensive Player of the Year
Jordan Butler (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) scored her first goal of the game at 17:55 when she shook her defender and found the top corner, giving the Mountaineers a 2-1 edge heading into the first media timeout.
Three minutes later,
Emily Davis (Salisbury, MD/Parkside) converted on a free position shot to extend the Mount lead to two.
Both squads would then trade goals, scoring just 30 seconds apart, including a tally from
Madeline Seims (Westbury, NY/W. Tresper Clarke), who netted her 60
th goal of the season, becoming the all-time single season goal scorer in Wagner history.
With Mount up 4-2, Wagner closed out the first half on a 3-0 run, receiving goals from Drum, NEC Midfielder of the Year
Erin Kerstetter (Shamong, NJ/Seneca), and
Stephanie Falcone (Breinigsville, PA/Perkiomen School). The two teams combining for just nine goals in the first half after both squads each scored at least seven in the first halves over their semifinal contests.
Neither team would find the back of the net until the 15:11 mark of the second half, when after a Mount timeout, Groover was awarded a free position chance and found
Alayna Pagnotta (Woodbine, MD/Glenelg) in front of the net to tie the game up 5-5.
The Seahawks regained the lead 3:07 later as Kerstetter drove to the front of the net for her second goal of the contest. Another goal from Seims with 5:33 to play in regulation extended the Wagner lead to 7-5.
With just 2:03 remaining, the Mountaineers converted on a loose ball in front of the Wagner goal as
Beanie Colson (Westminster, MD/Manchester Valley) put a rebound into the back of the net to pull the Mount within one.
The Mount had one last free position attempt with 0.6 seconds left on the clock, but Wagner goalkeeper
Kelsey Fee (White Plains, NY/Ithaca College) denied Davis at the horn to preserve the win.
Wagner outshot Mount St. Mary’s 34-21 and held a 20-12 advantage in ground balls.
Fee, who was named Tournament MVP, stopped nine shorts for Wagner. Petito made 15 saves for the Mountaineers.
2019 NEC All-Tournament Team
Kelsey Fee, WC (
Tournament MVP)
Maddie Courtney, WC
Erin Kerstetter, WC
Madeline Seims, WC
Emily Davis, MSM
Jillian Petito, MSM
Kaitlyn Ridenour, MSM
Lauren Britton, BRY
Emily Diaz, BRY
Maddie Burke, RMU
Mackenzie Gandy, RMU