#6 Women's Lacrosse Opens NCAA Tournament Against #10 Flagler

LAKELAND, Fla. – For the seventh time in program history, the No. 6 Florida Southern College women's lacrosse team opens play in the NCAA National Championship with a top-10 bracket to be hosted at the University of Tampa. The Moccasins will take on the No. 10 Flagler Saints in game two Friday, May 12, while No. 2 Tampa hosts No. 9 Rollins at 11 a.m.

The matchup: #6 FSC vs #10 FC
Location: Tampa, Fla. (Univ. of Tampa)
Stadium: Naimoli Family Athletic Complex
Time: 3 :00 p.m.
Live Stats: fscmocs.com/stats
Live Video: fscmocs.com/live
 
No. 6 Florida Southern
Florida Southern posted a 16-3 record through the regular season and Sunshine State Conference tournament where the Moccasins saw key wins over ranked opponents on the year in no. 2 Adelphi (15-10), no. 6 Pace (14-12), no. 7 Rollins (17-15), no. 8 Rollins (15-13), no. 11 Lynn (21-10), no. 13 Wingate (14-12), no. 13 Mercy (16-13), no. 13 Embry-Riddle (26-14), no. 21 Saint Leo (17-10), no. 23 Mount Olive (21-12), and no. 24 Colorado Mesa (24-12).
 
As a team, the Mocs average 18 goals per game, thanks to leadership from captain and SSC Player of the Year, Jackie Stoller. Stoller leads the team in points (96), goals (60), and assisted (36). Madison Tare and Hailey Daleo join Stoller with over 50 goals this season both standing at 52 and 54, respectively. Tare is second in points in 16 games played with 67 thanks to 15 assists.
 
Lizzy Lynch is fourth on the team in total points (59) but is second in assists with 26 while adding 33 goals to her credit. Giana Murphy and Abby McFerren round out the goal scorers with over 30 goals with 37 and 32, respectively.
 
Gina Verrone has been a key piece in the back for the Moccasins where the team only allows 12 goals a game thanks to Verrone's team-leading caused turnovers (31) and Lynch's 25. Verrone also leads the team in draw controls (96) and groundballs (43) heading into the NCAA tournament.
 
Based on starters from the last game, Sydney O'Neill is likely to start between the pipes for the Mocs. O'Neill, a senior from Milford, Conn., has played 461:52 minutes in goal in 11 contests with a 6-2 record and 12.60 Goals Against Average with a .378 save percentage. Her backup is Rylie Rittberg, a sophomore out of Mattituck, N.Y., who stands at 8-1 in 551:21 minutes of action with a 11.43 GAA and .348 save percentage.

No. 10 Flagler
Flagler has posted a 17-1 record through the regular season and the Gulf South Conference, which the Saints claimed the GSC titles and are on a 15-game win streak, dating back to Feb. 16. The Saints lone loss this season was a two-goal final to no. 5 Grand Valley State, 14-12, in St. Augustine.
 
Flagler has three wins over ranked opponents this year including no. 16 Embry-Riddle (16-11), no. 18 Saint Leo (18-11) and no. 11 Lynn (12-11 in overtime in Boca Raton),
 
After 18 games, the Saints average just under 18 goals a game, 17.72, behind Lexie Morton's 70 goals. She is the team leader in points (85) thanks to 15 assists on the year. Carley Tepel and Katelyn Trainor are second and third in goals scored with 46 and 40, respectively, while also being in the same order for points (50 and 43).
 
On a team that allows just 9.89 goals a game to its opponents, Jenn Seebach leads the defense with 31 caused turnovers while pacing the team in ground balls with 35. The team leader in draw controls is Ella Pinder (73) ahead of Carly LaFerriere (60).
 
Based on the Saints last game, the starter in goal is likely to be Lauren Ribadeneira who has played all 18 games with 927:21 minutes of action. She is 16-1 in goal and has a 9.96 GAA and a .408 save percentage.

History:
This is the first ever meeting between the two programs.