Williamsburg, KY – The top-seed and seventh-ranked University of the Cumberlands women's lacrosse team had five different players record multiple goals as the Patriots defeated fourth-seed and ninth-ranked Georgetown to advance to championship game of the inaugural Mid-South Conference tournament Friday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex.  With the win UC improves to 14-3 on the season, while the Tigers finish their season with a 9-8 record.

Cumberlands struck first as Emily Heim connected with Jaclyn Berry on UC's first possession to take a 1-0 lead.  Georgetown evened the score, before Bella Ricchiazzi found Shea West in front of the cage for a one-time shot to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead with 28:26 remaining in the first half.  Mid-South Conference player of the year Avery Blackmon notched her second goal of the game to even the score 53 seconds later.  The Patriots netted eight out of the next nine goals to extend their lead to 10-3 with 7:58 remaining. During that stretch Berry and Katie Brewer combined for six out of the eight goals, while Berry connected with Stephanie Meyer to cap off the run. 

Georgetown netted back-to-back goals to cut the score to 10-5.  Elizabeth Fladung scooped the ensuing draw control and on UC's possession Heim found West for a goal to extend the lead to 11-5.  Each team added another goal in the final two minutes of the half as the Patriots took a 12-6 lead into the break.

Cumberlands started the second half with Emily Crump stopping a free position shot, one of her seven saves in game.  That stopped led to a Ricchiazzi goal as she put a well-placed shot to upper left corner of the cage.   The Patriots added three straight goals including Katie Brewer converting on an empty net goal during a free position attempt to give UC a 16-6 advantage.  Georgetown added back-to-back goals before Heim converted a on a pair of goals and dished out an assist to push the Patriots lead to 19-9.  The Tigers tallied two of the final three goals for the 20-11 final.

Berry led the way for UC with eight goals and two assists, while Ricchiazzi added seven points and seven draw controls.  Heim chipped in a pair of goals to go along with five assists as Brewer netted four goals.  Kelly Webb, Briana Kucis, Fladung, and Trinity Brown each finished with a pair of caused turnovers and at least three ground balls in the contest.

The Patriots will return to the field tomorrow as they face second-seed Keiser for the Mid-South Conference Championship.  The game is slated for 3 p.m. with live video available here, while live stats are available here.

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