May 27, 2007

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Mid Atlantic 1 rallied past Upper Atlantic 1 by an 8-6 scored to reclaim the championship in the top flight of the High School Division at the US Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament. A record 75 teams and nearly 1,500 athletes participated in four different divisions in the event held at Lehigh University.

Mid Atlantic 1 had won the High School Division five consecutive times from 2001 to 2005 before New York 1 claimed the title last year. Mid Atlantic 1 won the title by avenging a 13-10 loss to Upper Atlantic 1 in pool play.

In the championship game, the lead changed hands five different times with Upper Atlantic 1 taking its final lead at 6-5 early in the second half on a goal by Amanda Jones. Mid Atlantic 1 took the lead at 7-6 on Mary Gilbride's goal with 11:30 remaining.

Upper Atlantic 1 had several chances to tie the game, hitting the pipe on consecutive shots with just under three minutes to play and then Mid Atlantic 1 goalie Louise Fauth made a big save with just under two minutes to play. Julie Gardner iced the victory for Mid Atlantic 1, scoring with 56 seconds remaining.

Kirsten Goldberg led all scorers with three goals for Mid Atlantic 1. Hadley Lankford added two for Mid Atlantic 1 and Jones led Upper Atlantic 1 with two goals and an assist.

In the Regional Club Division, Upper Atlantic 1 captured its first President's Cup since 2003 by going a perfect 4-0 in pool play action. Upper Atlantic 1 beat an undefeated New England 1 team 10-4 in its final game to wrap up the championship. In Division 2 of the Regional Club Division, Mid Atlantic 2 won the title by virtue of its 6-5 victory over Philadelphia. Both teams went 4-1.

A number of players and contributors were honored throughout the weekend.

Jones, a junior at Germantown (Pa.) Academy, received the Heather Leigh Albert Award as the top player in the High School Division.

Mary Dean, a senior at Cheltenham (Pa.) High School headed for Louisville, was the inaugural winner of the Beth Stone Award as the top player in the High School Senior Only Division. Dean had a pair of assists in the Senior All-Stars game against the U.S. Under-19 team and helped the Yellow Team capture the championship in the Senior Only Division.

Mary Key, who recently finished her record setting career at Johns Hopkins University, received the Aimee Willard Award as the outstanding college player participating in the National Tournament. Key participated in the Stars & Stripes Division, the first round of tryouts for the 2007-08 U.S. Elite and Developmental teams.

Michele DeJulius, a member of the U.S. Elite Team, received the Beth Allen Award and longtime rules interpreter Laura Hebert received the Nancy Chance Service Award.

Championship Results

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
Onondaga Division: Mid Atlantic 1 d. Upper Atlantic 1, 8-6
Seneca Division: Mid Atlantic 3 d. New York 3, 9-4
Oneida Division: New York 4 d. Lower New England 3, 14-7
Tuscarora Division: New York 6 d. Mid Atlantic 7, 10-8
Mohawk Division: Lower New England 5 d. Upper Atlantic 7, 10-6
Cayuga Division: New York 7 d. Upper Atlantic 8, 11-8

SENIOR ONLY DIVISION
Yellow d. Purple, 11-6