THROGGS NECK, NY – On Saturday afternoon, the Maritime College women's lacrosse team played in the Skyline Conference Championship Game for the first time ever.  The top-seeded Privateers, who earned the right to host the game with their regular-season win over Merchant Marine, faced the second-seeded Mariners again for the title.  This time, it was Merchant Marine that came out on top, however, as the Mariners (14-2) used an 8-0 scoring run in the second and third quarters to build a lead they would not relinquish in an eventual 18-11 victory over the Privateers (13-4) at Reinhart Field.

After Merchant Marine's Jenna Turrentine opened the scoring with a free position goal less than two minutes in, Nicole Johnson (Farmingville, NY) immediately responded.  The back-and-forth pace continued throughout a first quarter in which every score was countered on the other end.  The Mariners took a 4-3 lead into the second quarter before Johnson found the back of the net twice in the first 20 seconds of the period to give Maritime its first lead, 5-4.

However, Turrentine scored at the 10:20 mark to tie the game and spark the Merchant Marine run.  Gabrielle Nicolosi (West Islip, NY) finally got the Privateers back on the board with 5:35 left in the third quarter.  That goal started a 3-1 Maritime spurt that cut the Mariners' advantage to 13-8.  The Privateers would get no closer, though, as Merchant Marine clinched its second straight Skyline title (and fourth in the last five tournaments) with an 18-11 triumph.

It was Maritime's first home loss since an 18-6 defeat against Union in the opening game of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.  Since that contest, the Privateers had won 18 straight at Reinhart Field.

Johnson led Maritime with five goals, and she added an assist.  Her 56 goals this season equaled the program record.  Johnson also posted four draw controls.  Nicolosi found the back of the net four times, while Jenna Lesiewicz (Wading River, NY) finished with two goals, two assists, nine draw controls and four ground balls.  Sarah Malone (Land O'Lakes, FL) (1-2) picked up a pair of ground balls and made three saves.

Tournament Most Outstanding Player Turrentine had a role in half of Merchant Marine's 18 goals.  She scored eight times and also had an assist.  Gianna Russo tallied three goals and an assist, while Julia Coughlin contributed two goals and an assist.  Jaqui Sheedy controlled eight draws, and Lauren Jablonowski recorded five draw controls to go along with five points (one goal, four assists).  Anai Walters, meanwhile, picked up a team-best three ground balls.  Goalkeeper Amber Heverly (11-2) was credited with 10 saves.

Despite the loss, Maritime enjoyed the most successful season in program history.  The Privateers set a program record with 13 wins, earned a share of the Skyline regular season title for the first time, and made their first Skyline Championship Game appearance.