FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S-110-07-08
Monday, April 28, 2008

Women's Lacrosse to Host Messiah in MAC Semifinals

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- The Elizabethtown College women's lacrosse team will host Messiah College on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. at Wolf Field in the Middle Atlantic Conference semifinals. Admission is free for all spectators.

The winner will advance to Saturday's championship game against the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal between top-seeded FDU-Florham and Lycoming College. The MAC champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Blue Jays (10-4 overall, 7-1 MAC) are the second seed in the playoffs and carry a six-game winning streak into the postseason. Elizabethtown has not played since defeating Widener University 17-4 in their regular-season finale on April 22.

In the teams' regular-season meeting at Elizabethtown on April 17, the Blue Jays defeated the Falcons 14-7 behind five goals from sophomore Megan Byrnes (Lutherville, MD/Towson) and four goals by junior Katie Foley (Palmyra, NJ/Holy Cross).

Foley leads the MAC in goals per game at 4.50 (63 goals in 14 games) and is second in points per game at 5.50 (77 points in 14 games). She has scored at lest two goals in every game this season, and has netted seven or more goals on four occasions.

Byrnes has added 42 goals and 17 assists for 59 points, while sophomore Stephanie Kreis (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll School) is third on the team with 36 goals and seven assists for 43 points.

Foley also leads the Blue Jays with 36 draw controls, while Kreis paces the squad with 30 ground balls and first-year student Sarah Cullinan (West Chester, PA/East) has a team-best 30 caused turnovers.

In goal, junior Jenn Hawkins (Havre de Grace, MD/Havre de Grace) has started all 14 games and leads the MAC with an 8.67 goals against average and a .567 save percentage.

Messiah (10-6 overall, 6-2 MAC) is led by Kara Geiman, who has scored 65 goals and 22 assists for 87 points in 16 games. Jessica VanHook has added 42 goals and six assists, while Brianne Brennan leads the defense with 49 ground balls and 42 caused turnovers.