SALISBURY, Md. - The top-ranked Salisbury University women's lacrosse team will make a return trip to the NCAA Division III final four as the Sea Gulls won their regional final, 18-7, over No. 15 Catholic University of America on Sunday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium. The victory sets a new single-season record for wins in a season for Salisbury with 22, which is the longest winning streak in the nation.

Salisbury (22-0) will make its fifth appearance in the NCAA semifinal round next Saturday, May 17, at Donald J. Kerr Stadium in Salem, Va. The Sea Gulls will face No. 4 Hamilton College (19-1) who defeated No. 7 Middlebury College, 9-7, in another regional final. Salisbury and Hamilton will play at 11:30 a.m. The winner will advance to Sunday's championship game and face the winner of the other semifinal between defending national champion and third-ranked Franklin & Marshall College and No. 2 The College of New Jersey.

All four regional hosts won their respective regionals on Sunday. The past three national championships have been won by F&M (2007) and TCNJ (2006, '05). The Lions have won 12 national titles.

The road to the final four has been paved by senior Sue Ackermann, as she had another record-breaking game, with an eight-point against the Cardinals in the regional final. Ackermann's three goals and game-high five assists allowed the attacker to break two SU school career records.

She moved past former SU standout Christine Sliger (1992-2002) for the career lead in assists (147 was the record) while she finally surpassed Jen Mezzadra (1998-2001) on the career list for points (315 was the record). Ackermann now has 170 goals, 148 assists and 318 points in her four-year career as a Sea Gull.

This is the third straight game that Ackermann has tied or broken a SU women's lacrosse record. Her sights can now turn to a national record as she is now five points shy of the NCAA Division III single-season point's record of 154 currently held by Courtney Crangi of Goucher set in 1996. For the season, Ackermann has scored 80 goals, 69 assists for 149 points.

"I don't like it when people bring it [records] up because it is not important," said Ackermann. "If we come out and win it doesn't matter who is doing the scoring."

The first half was tightly contested as Catholic only found itself trailing 7-5 with 37 seconds left to play. Cardinal star Kate Robinson (three goals) fired a shot at the SU net that strayed wide and was scooped up by Salisbury defender Kelly Phillips. The senior passed the ball ahead into the offensive zone when with 14 seconds left to play Jessica Chmielewski (two goals, one assist) took the Courtney Sorenson (one goal, two assists) pass and scored to put SU up, 8-5, at the half.

"It felt too close for comfort," said Ackermann about the halftime score. "We knew we were better than how we played in the first half. Catholic played well and they came out strong and played really strong and aggressive. It was good practice for us going into the final four."

The last second first half goal proved to be crucial for Salisbury as they came out of the break on fire.

The Sea Gulls broke loose in the second half as they scored the first seven goals en route to the 11-goal win. Ackermann and sophomore Beth Rhodey (five goals, one assist) each scored a pair of goals in the stretch to give Salisbury some breathing room. SU outscored Catholic 10-2 in the second half.

"I don't think Catholic let down as much as every time we had the ball there was two or three players on us at all times. We just really stepped up and took control of the game," said SU sophomore Kim Cudmore on the second half.

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2008-05-11