THROGGS NECK, NY – For the first time in program history, the Maritime College women's lacrosse team will be the No. 1 seed in the Skyline Conference Tournament.  The Privateers (12-2, 7-0 Skyline) officially clinched the top spot on Wednesday night with a dominant 14-2 win over Old Westbury (2-8, 1-6 Skyline) on Senior Night at Reinhart Field.

Maritime honored its five graduating seniors prior to the game, then jumped out to an early lead when Gabrielle Nicolosi (West Islip, NY) scored twice in the first four minutes.  Emily Commodore (Tinton Falls, NJ) made it 3-0 before Jessica Pedroza put Old Westbury on the board.  Nicole Johnson (Farmingville, NY) converted a free position attempt to put the Privateers in front 4-1 at the end of the first quarter.

After the Panthers pulled within 4-2 on Nicole Abalco's tally a minute into the second quarter, Old Westbury would be held scoreless the rest of the way.  Avery Jillson Neuwirth (Croton-On-Hudson, NY) started the 10-0 run with a goal at the 12:16 mark of the second quarter.  The Privateers led 9-2 at halftime before extending that advantage to 12-2 after three quarters.  Maritime scored twice in the final period to finish off the 14-2 victory and wrap up the No. 1 seed.

Nicolosi found the back of the net four times, while Jillson Neuwirth tallied five points on three goals and two assists.  Johnson had two goals and three assists to go along with four ground balls and seven draw controls.  Anya Josberger (Coxsackie, NY) and Morgan Tracy (Cambridge, MD) gathered six ground balls apiece, and Tracy also notched a goal and three assists.  Kiera Ford (Montgomery, NY) added five ground balls, as Maritime held a 36-15 edge in that category.  Commodore, meanwhile, controlled four draws.

Chelsea Gostomski (Bel Air, MD) (1-0) got the start in goal and earned the win.  She played the second half in the field and scored for the second time this season.  Sarah Malone (Land O'Lakes, FL) had a goal and an assist before taking over for Gostomski between the pipes in the second half.

In addition to scoring a goal, Pedroza tallied three draw controls for the Panthers.  Isabelle Recine also controlled three draws, while Mia Almonte picked up three ground balls.  Kathleen Mackey (2-8) collected four ground balls to go along with her 19 saves on 45 Maritime shots.

As the No. 1 seed, the Privateers will have a first-round bye before hosting a Skyline semifinal next Thursday, May 4.  Maritime has one regular season game remaining prior to that contest, an 11 a.m. matchup at St. Joseph's LI (5-6, 4-3 Skyline) on Saturday.