HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 15, 2022)  – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team's historic 2022 season came to an end Sunday with a 15-4 setback to No. 1 Salisbury University in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Division III Championship.

First-year Emily Smart was one of four goal-scorers for the Ducks, who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end in falling to 18-3. The 18 victories are the most in program history.

Lydia McNulty and Emma Skoglund each had three goals and an assist for the top-ranked Sea Gulls, who won their seventh straight to improve to 16-3 on the year. Salisbury, the defending national champion, advances to take on Kenyon next weekend on a date and time yet to be announced by the NCAA. Kenyon scored three times in the fourth quarter to defeat Rhodes 15-14 to close out a regional pod.

Senior Morgan Westerby joined junior Maddie Schmidt and sophomore Emily Leiby in finding the back of the net for the Ducks, who scored three of their four goals on free-position shots. Over the course of two NCAA games, the Ducks scored 13 goals on 14 free-position shots. 

Senior Lauren Cunniff made a season- and career-high 14 saves for the Ducks, bringing her season total to 165 to set a new program single-season record. The previous record of 164 was set by alumna Stephanie Linder in 2007. Cunniff, who received honorable mention All-America recognition from USA Lacrosse Magazine earlier in the week, recorded 10 or more saves 10 times this season. Mary Claire Hisle made a pair of saves to earn the victory for Salisbury, with Kaitlyn Hunsinger playing the final 2:35 to close out the victory.

Smart provided the Ducks with an early lead, converting a free-position attempt following a foul by Caroline McKenna. The Haddonfield, New Jersey concluded her rookie season with 14 goals and a team-leading 34 assists, after totaling seven goals and two assists during the field hockey season.

The Ducks' defensive group held the high-powered Salisbury's offense in check early in the contest, with Cunniff making three saves and first-year Marie Lindberger forcing a turnover over the first minutes of play. Camryn Pepper finally broke through for the Sea Gulls at the seven-minute mark and Salisbury added three more over the final 3:15 to take a 4-1 lead. 

Despite being outshot 20-7 through the first two quarters, Stevens was only down four goals at the intermission, when Westerby beat Hisle for her 41st goal of the year to bring the Ducks back to within two, but the Sea Gulls added a pair of goals to take a 6-2 at halftime. Salisbury's six-goal output was tied for the team's third-lowest first-half total of the season. 

Salisbury broke the game open in the third quarter, scoring four times over a five-minute span to open an eight-goal lead. Schmidt scored on a free-position shot to bring some energy back to the crowd, but the Sea Gulls scored five of the final six goals to produce the final margin of victory.

The teams were evenly matched in the circle, with Salisbury earning 12 draw controls, while the Ducks had 11. Westerby led the Ducks' efforts, earning four, while Leiby collected two. Seniors Camryn Rogers and Natalie Fitzpatrick joined junior Zoe Cook in corralling one each. Westerby's four draw controls brought her season total to 100 and the Marlton, New Jersey native became one of just three players in program history to earn 100 in a single season. McKenna had six to lead Salisbury.

Stevens caused four of the Sea Gulls' turnovers. Salisbury entered the game as the national leader in fewest turnovers per game averaging right around 11 per contest. Cook, senior Meredith Conlin, Lindberger and first-year Erica Schug each had one. Conversely, Salisbury caused 14 of the Ducks' 24 miscues, with McKenna leading the efforts, registering four caused turnovers. The Sea Gulls' edge in the turnover battle also led to a 24-11 advantage in ground balls.

The Ducks went 16 for 19 on clears, but were a perfect 7 for 7 in the second half. Salisbury finished the day 21 for 21.

Leiby's third-quarter goal came on the woman-advantage as the Ducks finished the contest 1 for 2 on the powerplay, while also successfully killing off a pair of cards.

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