Post women claim national lacrosse championship

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- LIU Post earned its third Division II national championship in women's lacrosse Saturday, a thrilling 17-16 victory only made sweeter at the expense of rival West Chester (Pa.).

Sophomore Jackie Sileo darted from a free position left of goal, ducked under a defender and bounced home the winning goal with 3:44 to play.

"I just saw an opening and I just went for it," Sileo said.

The six goals and three assists from Sileo set a record for most points in a championship game. Her 17 points throughout the tournament were also a record.

West Chester cut the lead to one with 20 seconds left but the Pioneers' Abbie Ross controlled the ensuing final draw to seal the title.

LIU Post surrendered a goal in the game's opening minute before senior Nan Mayott took over, scoring three unassisted goals in a span of just more than four minutes.

Goals from Katie Rotan, Sileo and a fourth Mayott score gave the Pioneers a 7-1 lead less than 15 minutes into the game.

"We just had so much momentum and we started to lose it a little bit," Sileo said. "The fact that we never, ever let them tie it was huge because that would have been a game changer."

The Pioneers' win avenged an 18-15 loss at West Chester on April 24. LIU Post let an 11-6 lead with 24 minutes remaining slip away that day and used the sting as inspiration.

Senior defender Chelsea Donaldson said a newfound calm grew over the team following that loss.

"Once they started to come back today, that's when it tested us to see if we really were composed," Donaldson said.

"At no point when they were coming back did I think we were going to lose," goalkeeper Dominique Mosca said. "For some reason, it was like all of the doubt of losing games went away and we just focused on what we had to do."

Lauren Spagnoletta had a hat trick for LIU Post (17-3).

Tori Dugan led West Chester (16-4) with five goals.

Saturday's match, held at Bellarmine University, marked the fourth time the two teams have met for the national championship. West Chester won, 13-12, in 2008 to end LIU Post coach Meghan McNamara's first season. LIU Post knocked off the Golden Rams to earn its 2001 and 2007 titles.

The maturation of her team and the title run in which the Pioneers beat three-time defending champs and No. 1-ranked Adelphi in the first round and No. 2 Le Moyne in the semifinals were unbelievable, Sileo said.

"The amount of hard work and hustle and heart that we've put into these past couple weeks is what got us here," she said. "We have the most heart out of every team in Division II. That's how we pulled through."

The team, made up mostly of Long Islanders, planned to return for its victory celebration to the same place it enjoyed a hearty Italian meal the night before.

"Olive Garden, here we come," Donaldson laughed. "Endless breadsticks!"