CORTLAND, N.Y. – Senior Jennifer Willis (Huntington/Walt Whitman) scored three goals and added an assist to lead the nationally ninth- ranked Cortland women's lacrosse team to a 12-3 victory over Brockport in the finals of the SUNYAC Tournament Saturday afternoon at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex. With the win, the Red Dragons (14-3) captured their ninth straight conference title and automatic NCAA playoff berth. The Golden Eagles fell to 12-4 with the loss.

Cortland featured a balanced scoring attack with seven players finding the back of the net. Freshman Jessie Fritz (Baldwinsville/ C.W. Baker) contributed two goals and an assist, senior Andrea Venditti (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and junior Elizabeth Acee (Syracuse/Henninger) chipped in with two goals each, and senior Ali Bourgal (Sachem) added a goal and two assists. Senior Gina Fazio (Brownville/General Brown) recorded a goal and an assist. Freshman goalie Deanne Abell (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley) made six saves and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

For Brockport, junior Jenny Baccile (Elmira/Horseheads) led the offense with a pair of goals. Freshman Lindsey Cayea (Cicero/Cicero- North Syracuse) added a goal and sophomores Julia Decker (Penn Yan) and Kim Morris (Clay/Cicero-North Syracuse) recorded one assist each. Senior goalie Ashley Taylor (Middle Island/Longwood) registered nine saves.

With the game tied 1-1, Cortland ended the first half with six straight goals, including two each from Acee and Willis, to take a 7-1 lead at the half. Cortland junior Beth Elmer (Camillus/West Genesee) and Baccile traded goals to start the second half. Willis and Baccile then each scored to make it a 9-3 game with 11:50 remaining. Cortland closed out the game with the final three goals, one each from Fazio, Bourgal and Fritz, for the final margin.

Bourgal, Willis, Fritz and senior Cici Carter (Guilderland) were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Red Dragons. Cayea, Baccile and sophomore Kath Villa (Watervliet/Shaker) were Brockport's selections. Rounding out the All-Tournament team were senior Erin Maybeck (Huntington) and freshman Lauren Portnoy (Sea Cliff/North Shore) of Oneonta and senior Maggie Benham (Canandaigua) and junior Colleen Byrne (Syracuse/Bishop Ludden) of Geneseo.

Team (Record)     1   2  Final
Brockport (12-4)  1   2     3
Cortland (14-3)   7   5    12

Scoring (Goals-Assists):

Brockport: Jenny Baccile 2-0, Lindsey Cayea 1-0, Julia Decker 0-1, Kim Morris 0-1
Cortland: Jennifer Willis 3-1, Jessie Fritz 2-1, Elizabeth Acee 2-0, Andrea Venditti 2-0, Ali Bourgal 1-2, Gina Fazio 1-1, Beth Elmer 1-0, Cici Carter 0-1

Goalkeepers:
Brockport: Ashley Taylor, 9 saves (12 GA in 60:00)
Cortland: Deanne Abell, 6 saves (3 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Cortland 28, Brockport 21
Ground Balls: Cortland 21, Brockport 13
Draw Controls: Cortland 9, Brockport 8
Caused Turnovers: Brockport 7, Cortland 6
Turnovers: Brockport 21, Cortland 18
Fouls: Cortland 20, Brockport 17

2007-05-05