Defense Leads to Offense as Women's Lacrosse Soars Past Wheeling to Make Fifth Straight MEC Championship Appearance

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team pushed through a rain delay to take an early-called 17-1 victory over Wheeling in just three quarters on Thursday evening in the MEC Semifinals.
 
Prior to the game, the MEC recognized Frostburg's six All-MEC First Team members, graduate Camden DeMaio, seniors Kerri Hayes and Delaney Devers, and juniors Neila Haney, Jessie Bare, and Izzy Kelly.  The Bobcats had five other players sprinkled throughout the rest of the All-Conference teams, as the major MEC Postseason Awards will be announced after the conclusion of the tournament.
 
Kicking off their 2025 playoff campaign, Frostburg started off strong getting their first tally of the game just over 30 seconds in when, senior Julia Badolato fed junior Sydney Stone for the first strike of the game.  Devers coughed up a turnover from Wheeling on their first possession, as Stone kept the CT action going for FSU on the defensive end.  Stone's first shot of the game hit the post, as the Cardinals hit the top of the goal as well on their first look.  Senior Grace Dickey recorded her first save of the day on WU's next shot, with Stone seeing another caused turnover.  After four minutes, the Bobcats offense started to open up, with Badolato feeding both Haney and DeMaio for Frostburg's next two goals and a 3-0 game.  DeMaio knotted another goal for FSU after Hayes caused a turnover from Wheeling, as Dickey and Kelly recorded stats on the defensive end.  With their defense soaring, Badolato scored her first goal of the day off a feed from sophomore Abbey Warner, with senior Natalie Williams dishing to Haney for a 6-0 game.  Juniors Daniella Boss and Emily Lamoreaux recorded back-to-back goals for the Bobcats, as Haney saw one more tally to end the quarter with FSU up 9-0. 
 
Williams ripped the first shot of the second, trying to keep the energy going for Frostburg, as freshman Kamryn Lee earned a CT on Wheeling's offensive attempt down at the other end.  On FSU's next look at offense, Williams passed to Haney for another strike to hit the 10-goal mark for Frostburg.  Stone was credited with another caused turnover, setting up a Haney to DeMaio connection for an 11-0 score.  Both teams swapped blocked shots on their next tries, with Bare moving for a CT as well.  Wheeling and Frostburg traded shots as time went on, neither being able to find the back of the net.  WU sent in two shots that were just off the mark, both catching the crossbar.  The Bobcats defense worked to block the Cardinals' next attempt, as Dickey picked up another save,  both until Wheeling was able to sneak one by at the 5:24 mark to get on the board.  Lamoreaux responded with a goal of her own off a free position shot to answer before the break, putting the score at 12-1 at the half. 
 
FSU quickly scooped up the draw control to start the third, as Badolato soared one in right away to increase the Bobcats' lead.  Senior Megan Keller got in on the defensive action, earning herself a caused turnover, setting up DeMaio on the other end for another strike to move the game to 14-1.  Dickey stood in the way of WU's next shot, adding another save to her total, as on FSU's third shot of their possession, Haney was given an assist off a goal from Boss.  Keller collected another CT and ground ball on the defensive end, again helping Frostburg set up their offense, allowing Haney to make her way down field for a shot at net to advance the game to 16-1.  The Bobcats again let their defense lead to offense, with a caused turnover from Kelly guiding to a Badolato feed to DeMaio to put the score at 17-1.  Bare and Kelly each added a CT to their stat total to end the third, leaving the score at 17-1 heading into the fourth. 
 
Both teams sent in a shot in the first minute of the fourth, but after dealing with rain for most of the game, the contest was called at the 13:29 mark of the quarter due to lighting, leaving the final score at 17-1, allowing Frostburg to advance to the MEC Championship game.
 
Haney and DeMaio each finished with five goals on the evening, with the former seeing two assists and the latter dishing out one.  Badolato, Lamoreaux, and Boss all finished with a pair of strikes, with Badolato putting out a team-high five assists.  Kelly led the defensive effort with a team-high in both caused turnovers (4) and ground balls (3), while Stone and Keller were next with a trio of CT's.  Dickey finished with four saves in goal. 
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 12-6 on the season, while Wheeling finishes 7-8.  The Bobcats advance to their fifth straight MEC Championship game, where they look to defend their crown once again on their home field, this time against the No. 3 seed of Dominican (CA) on Sunday, May 4 at 1 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.