Williamsburg, KY – The top-seed and seventh-ranked University of the Cumberlands women's lacrosse team led wire-to-wire with six different scores as the Patriots defeated second-seed and third-ranked Keiser 22-11 to win the inaugural Mid-South Conference Tournament championship Saturday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex.  With the win UC clinches a berth in the NAIA Invitational as well as the program's second conference tournament title.

Keiser (13-4) look to get on the board first, however Emily Crump made back-to-back saves to keep the game scoreless.  Just over two minutes into the first half, Emily Heim found Jaclyn Berry cutting in front of the cage for a goal to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.  Cumberlands (15-3) extended their lead to 2-0 as Katie Brewer connected with Shea West for the one-timer at the 25:29 mark.  Both teams tallied a pair of free position goals before Brewer found West cutting in front of the circle for a goal to push the lead to 5-2 with 20:11 left in the first half. A minute later Amanda Phillips caused a Seahawks turnovers and on the ensuing transition Bella Ricchiazzi notched an unassisted goal to push the lead 6-2.

Keiser snapped a nine-minute scoring drought with consecutive man-down goals to cut the deficit to 6-4 with 11:55 remaining in the first half.  After two teams traded goals, Cumberlands took advantage of a Keiser penalty as Ricchiazzi connected with Berry for the man-up goal.  Just over a minute later, Phillips found a cutting Trinity Brown, who made a quick move and put a well-placed shot into the cage for her first goal of the tournament and gives UC a 9-5 lead. A Maria Johnson goal cut the lead to 9-6, however Phillips connected with Berry for a man-up goal to give the Patriots a 10-6 at halftime.

The Seahawks netted the first goal of the second half on a Johnson goal at the 28:11 mark.  Cumberlands responded as Ricchiazzi wrapped around the cage for a one-on-one and finished it to make it 12-7. That goal ignited a 7-0 run by the Patriots, which included three goals by Berry and back-to-back goals from Phillips, to extend the lead to 17-7 with 17:12 remaining. Keiser took advantage of a UC penalty as Madalyn Huber connected on a free position attempt for the man-up goal. A couple minutes later, Jessica Covell saved a Katie Brewer shot, however Phillips scoped the ground ball and fired home the rebound to push the lead to 18-9.  Keiser netted two of the next three goals to cut the lead to 19-11, which was the closest they came as Heim, Berry and Ricchiazzi tallied three straight goals for the 22-11 final.

Berry led the way for UC with eight goals, while Heim notched three goals, four assists and a game-high 11 draw controls. Ricchiazzi chipped in six points as Phillips finished with five points and five ground balls. In addition to West, who netted hat tricks to consecutive games.

Defensively, Crump notched 12 saves to earn the win.  Brown, Briana Kucis, Elizabeth Fladung, and Kelly Webb combined for 10 ground balls and five caused turnovers in the contest.

The Patriots will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the NAIA Invitational beginning Wednesday, May 8. The NAIA is slated to announce the bracket and match ups tomorrow afternoon.  

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