Live Stats
ESPN3
Championship Central
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – For the first time since 2005, the top-two seeds will meet for the America East Women’s Lacrosse title on Sunday at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, N.Y. After winning their respective semifinal games on Friday evening, No. 1 seed and host Stony Brook will take on No. 2 Albany in a rematch of the 2012 title game at noon .
The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3 and also available via computers and mobile devices through WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. Eric Frede and Leah Secondo will have the call.
Albany defeated Stony Brook, 9-7, in last year’s title game in Boston, Mass., but the Seawolves were able to come out on top of a 9-2 decision during the 2013 regular season.
Stony Brook (15-2) advances to its second America East Championship final after an 18-4 win over No. 4 seed Vermont in the semifinals. America East Co-Player of the Year Demmianne Cook broke the conference single game record with seven goals as the Seawolves recorded the second-largest margin of victory in a conference tournament game.
Cook leads the nation in goals per game entering the title game at 4.88, tallying 83 so far this season. She is eight goals shy of tying the single season America East record. Goalkeeper Frankie Caridi is on pace to register the best goals against average in league history, allowing just 5.50 per game entering the final, helping Stony Brook to the top-ranked defense in the country.
Vermont grabbed an early 2-1 lead before the Stony Brook defense clamped down and shut the Catamounts out for the final 20 minutes of the first half, scoring 11-straight goals in the process to take a 12-2 halftime lead. The Seawolves did not lead by fewer than 10 goals after that point.
Albany (12-4) used a strong defensive effort to get past No. 3 seed New Hampshire, 13-6. The Great Danes forced 18 New Hampshire turnovers and held a 19-10 advantage in ground balls.
America East Co-Rookie of the Year Rachel Bowles carried the Albany offense in the first half, scoring three goals to help the Great Danes to a 5-3 halftime lead.
The second half was all about Co-Player of the Year Rachael Burek, who tallied all five of her points, including four goals as Albany broke the game open. Burek helped Albany grab its biggest lead of the game at 9-5 with just over 16 minutes remaining.
After New Hampshire got back within three on a goal from Amber Casiano, Albany shut the Wildcats out for the final 15:39 to go on to the victory.
Burek enters the championship ranked first in the conference and second in the nation with a 3.33 assists per game average. She also leads the league in points per game at 5.60, totaling 34 goals and 50 assists on the year.
Albany also ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 7.27 goals per game.
The Great Danes look to become the third team in America East history to win three-straight titles, while Stony Brook searches for its first conference crown.