Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
WLAX
Anna Meyer
John Carroll moves to 16-1 on the season
10
Mount Union UMU 13-2
20
Winner John Carroll JCUW 16-1
Mount Union UMU
13-2
10
Final
20
John Carroll JCUW
16-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mount Union UMU 5 5 10
John Carroll JCUW 12 8 20

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | | Luke Potosky, Staff Writer

Women's Lacrosse Wins First OAC Championship and Clinches Bid to the NCAA Tournament

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- When John Carroll Women's Lacrosse had its season canceled in March 2020, the team felt its chances at a historic run were stripped away.

Fast forward less than 14 months later and the Blue & Gold found themselves making history one game at a time. They were given a second chance, and they took full advantage of it.

John Carroll came out victorious with a 20-10 effort over Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament finale, at Don Shula Stadium, to claim the program's first OAC Tournament crown in school history. With the victory, the Blue Streaks also clinch their first ever bid for the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament. 

The Blue & Gold began the conference title game with all of the momentum, scoring the first five goals of the contest. Two goals from Alex Heishman and scores from Colleen Grombala, Claire Mezzoprete (Emma Workman assist), and Workman gave JCU an early 5-0 advantage, less than six minutes into the game.

After the Purple Raiders etched a goal on the scoreboard, Mezzoprete responded with back-to-back scores to make it a 7-1 contest.

The Purple Raiders converted their second goal of the game, but John Carroll continued to dominate possession and kept Mount Union at bay with the closest score since the opening five minutes.

Two goals from Carly Ross (Jenna Ginsberg assists) and another score from Heishman gave John Carroll a 10-2 lead and the Blue Streaks ended the first half with a 12-5 advantage.

Ginsberg (Olivia Gerlach assist) got the Blue Streaks in the scoring column to begin the second half. After a Purple Raider score, though, Ginsberg and Gerlach would connect again to make it 14-6.

After Grombala added another score, the Purple Raiders bounced back with two goals, tightening the contest at 15-8.

Mezzoprete (Ginsberg assist) found the net for another goal, but the Purple Raiders scored twice more to make it a 16-10 ballgame with 16:30 on the clock.

Nevertheless, the resilient Blue Streaks were too much to handle down the stretch.

Keyed by goals from Ross, Olivia Hanulak, and two more from Grombala, JCU finished the game with four goals, holding Mount Union scoreless in the last 16 minutes of play.

When it was all said and done and the clock hit zero, it was celebration time at Wasmer Field. The JCU sideline unleashed a flurry of screams as they sprinted to the East endzone and piled together, sharing cheers and tears of joy for their remarkable season.

The Blue Streaks offense was led by Grombala (six goals), Ginsberg (two goals, three assists), Mezzoprete (four goals), Ross & Heishman (three goals), Workman (one goal, one assist), Gerlach (two assists), and Hanulak (one goal).

Lainey Donalson and Shannon Burdick each finished with three ground balls and a caused turnover. Mary Doherty was excellent all day in the midfield by winning a game-high 12 draw controls.

In goal, Kaleigh Kotula had two saves and Maddy Munding notched three saves. 

As a team, the Blue & Gold had a record day with 50 total shots (40 of which were shots on goal), 19 ground balls, ten free-position shots, and 26 draw controls.

After winning her first OAC title, coach Rachel Dell reflected on how the Blue Streaks ended up being the ones raising the championship trophy when the season was all said and done.

"Every player who has ever played on this team has been playing for this trophy and this championship," the veteran coach said. 

"We had been talking about being here and we've never hidden our goal to win the OAC and play well beyond that. We had come close to advancing to the Championship game twice. The difference, [however], was back then, we could win the OAC. This year it was more of, 'we will win the OAC.'"

John Carroll University receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament. The Selection Show will take place on Monday, May 3 at 10:30 AM on NCAA.com. 
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors