GENEVA, N.Y. * Junior Robyn Bishop scored the game-winning goal on a free-position-shot with 33 seconds left in the second half to send the No. 2 Salisbury University women's lacrosse team to their second national championship in the past three years with an 8-7 win over No. 3 Middlebury in the national semifinals.

The Sea Gulls (21-1) will have a chance to avenge their only loss of the season, as they take on No. 1 Franklin & Marshall (20-0) on Sunday, May 20 at William Smith College's McCooey Field at noon. The Diplomats defeated Salisbury 8-7 in Lancaster, Pa. on March 31.

Franklin & Marshall defeated Gettysburg in the first semifinal game, 13-7, to advance to the national championship.

The Salisbury-Middlebury game statistics were close but it was SU's advantage on draw controls that ultimately closed the door on the Panthers. The Sea Gulls held a 5-1 second half advantage on the draw which includes the final one of the game that landed safely in the stick of junior Jessica Liston.

Middlebury (16-2) scooped up three more groundballs than Salisbury, 12-9, but the Panthers had four more turnovers on the game, 17-14.

Salisbury trailed twice in the second half but never by more than a goal. Junior Alexis Morrell tied the score at six with 19 minutes to play in the game and senior Natalie Degele knotted the game at seven with four minutes left to set the stage for Bishop's dramatic goal.

SU goalie Sonja Stuart remained perfect between the pipes for Salisbury as she earned her fourth win in as many tries with a seven save effort. Middlebury's Blair Bowie also record seven saves in the loss.

Salisbury scored the game's first goal less than one minute into the contest as senior Stephanie Shores netted home the unassisted strike. The Sea Gulls led by as many as two-goals in the first half, 3-1, but back-to-back Panther goals erased the deficit.

Middlebury and Salisbury traded the final four goals of the first half to go into the intermission tied at five.

2007-05-19