MEC Women's Lacrosse Championship Preview: #1 Frostburg State vs #3 Dominican (CA)

FROSTBURG, Md. – Looking to capture their third consecutive MEC Championship Title, No. 1 seed Frostburg State welcomes in new conference member Dominican University of California, who serves as the No. 3 seed in the tournament, for their battle of the cup. 
 
How They Got Here
On a tare in the Mountain East Conference, Frostburg showed their second straight season of a perfect 8-0 record in conference competition, posting an overall record of 12-6.  The Bobcats started their 2025 campaign with a dominant 21-2 win over Holy Family, taking down both Gannon and Jefferson before starting conference play.  For the third consecutive year, FSU was named MEC Regular Season Champions, as the Bobcats put up a solid effort in their semifinal match, taking down Wheeling 17-1 in just three quarters as the game was called early due to weather.
 
Dominican (CA), in their first year as a part of the MEC, currently holds a strong 12-1 record, having traveled east as Ohio for competition during the regular season.  The Penguins are based out of San Rafael, California, showing as the only Division II Women's Lacrosse program in the state.  Dominican defeated conference opponent Charleston (WV) on Thursday in the semifinal match, taking their first ever look at the MEC by a final score of 12-8.
 
The Matchup
This will be the first-time in program history Frostburg has faced a school from California.  The Bobcats first time seeing the Penguins will be in the championship match, as this will go down as their first game against one another as conference rivals.  This is Dominican's first year in the MEC, as the Penguins were given the No. 3 seed in the tournament as an associate member. 

The Players
Frostburg stands strong all over, starting up front with First Team All-MEC selections junior Neila Haney (70 goals, 20 assists) and graduate Camden DeMaio (61 goals, 36 assists), who sit as the top two point totalers in the conference.  Joining them as another offensive weapon is fellow First Team member senior midfielder Kerri Hayes, who holds a 24 goal and six assist season so far, while also collecting 16 caused turnovers and 17 groundballs. Defensively, FSU is carried by a trio of key defenders starting with the junior duo of Jessie Bare (39 CT's, 41 GB's) and Izzy Kelly (35 CT's, 38 GB's), as well as senior Delaney Devers (22 CT's, 25 GB's), all who received First Team honors as well.  Senior Julia Badolato is another Bobcat to watch out for on the offensive end, putting up 32 goals and 18 assists to award her a Second Team All-MEC nod, while junior midfielders Emily Lamoreaux (22 goals, 12 assists, 43 draw controls) and Daniella Boss (20 goals, 5 assists, 31 DC's), and senior goalkeeper Grace Dickey round out the rest of the field for FSU, all receiving All-MEC Honorable Mention, as the latter is the conference leader in save percentage (.536) and goals against average (7.04).  Freshman Kamryn Lee posted a strong suit off the bench, being named to the All-MEC Freshman Team in her first collegiate season, as she holds onto nine CT's and 13 groundballs.
 
Dominican is carried by First Team All-MEC members Brooke Vafi and Olivia Johnson, who help provide on the offensive side with the former tallying up 21 goals and 18 assists, while the latter has gone off for 25 goals and 11 assists while setting a team-high in draw controls (59), ground balls (36), and caused turnovers (24).  Serving as the First Team defender is Elke Moerkeseth, who has coughed up 25 CT's and 13 ground balls on the season so far.  Morgan Newkirk leads the team in goals with a 33 to go along with five assists and 20 draw controls, as she received Second Team All-MEC honors alongside Taylor Pieri, who show 18 goals, 16 assists, and 26 GB's.  The Penguins had two defensive members receive All-MEC Honorable Mention in Lusi Tapasa (21 CT's, 19 GB's) and America Vizcaino (eight CT's and 11 GB's), while Kyra Evans was named to the All-MEC Freshman team with 22 goals, 10 assists, 36 draw controls, and 16 ground balls in her first collegiate season.
 
2025 MEC Women's Lacrosse Tournament
Thursday, May 1 – SEMIFINALS
#3 Dominican (CA) def. #2 Charleston (WV) 12-8
#1 Frostburg State def. #4 Wheeling 17-1
 
Sunday, May 4 - CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 Frostburg State vs. #3 Dominican (CA) – 1 PM