Kole Pollock scored four first-half goals to help Adelphi down previously unbeaten Regis (Colo.) 17-10 in the NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse Championship semifinal round on Friday at Grant Valley State (Mich.) University.
The victory was the 100th career win for Adelphi head coach Pat McCabe (100-9 in five seasons) and sends the Panthers to the national championship game for the 10th time in school history. Adelphi has won eight national titles, more than any other school in NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse, with the most recent title coming in 2017.
It’s opponent in the final will be another team with championship pedigree. West Chester held off Queens (N.C.) 10-9 to advance to the national final for the 10th time in school history. It’s the first championship game appearance for the Rams since 2012. West Chester last won the national title in 2008.
This will be the fourth time that Adelphi and West Chester will play for the NCAA championship. Adelphi won the previous three meetings in 2004, 2006 and 2010.
In Friday’s first game, Regis scored first, but Adelphi quickly took control with five straight goals — three of them by Pollock, who leads the Panthers with 77 goals this season.
Adelphi led 11-4 at the break, but Regis got back into the game with a four-goal run to open the second half, pulling to within 11-8 on Sarah Myres’ goal with 19 minutes to play.
Adelphi (18-3) then went on another run, scoring three straight goals and six of the next seven to earn its trip to the finals.
Alison Johnson helped lead the Adelphi offense with five assists and Pollock got help in the scoring column from Lena Riportella and Allison Stackpole with three goals each.
Ali Vanek led Regis (20-1) with five goals and Myres added three goals and two assists to finish the season with 94 goals.