SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For the 11^th year in a row, the Stony Brook women's lacrosse team is headed to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating Niagara, 19-7, on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Seawolves improved to 9-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament first round and extended their season-long winning streak to 13-straight games.
 

𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 💃

A complete team effort leads us to a date with Syracuse!

🌊🐺 x #NCAALAX pic.twitter.com/16pbTLoOZh

— Stony Brook Women's Lacrosse (@StonyBrookWLAX) May 10, 2024

 
Stony Brook was paced by nine different goal scorers and had five players register multi-goal games. Senior midfielder Ellie Masera led all scorers with a game-high 10 points (six goals, four assists). For Masera, it was the third time this season that she recorded 10 or more points in a game. With her 10 points in the win, Masera broke the CAA single-season record for points with 114. She passed JMU's Gail Decker who set the record in 2004 with 112 points.
 

𝗖𝗔𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗 ✅

Congratulations to @elliemasera on setting the @CAASports single-season record for most points with 114 and counting!

🌊🐺 x #NCAALAX pic.twitter.com/hsGTHOOwmh

— Stony Brook Women's Lacrosse (@StonyBrookWLAX) May 10, 2024

 
The Seawolves took control of the game in the first minute and never looked back. Graduate midfielder Charlotte Verhulst scored the game's first goal off a feed from Masera just 46 seconds into the contest. Verhulst's goal kicked off a 5-0 run for Stony Brook out of the gate and led 6-2 after the first quarter.
 
Stony Brook continued it offensive explosion in the second quarter as it outscored Niagara, 7-1, in the frame. The Seawolves took a commanding, 13-3, lead into the halftime break and received goals from eight different goal scorers. Stony Brook closed the second quarter on a 4-0 scoring run and carried that run into the second half.
 
The Seawolves scored six of the first seven goals in the second half and grew their lead to as large as 19-4 with 5:08 to play in the fourth quarter. The Purple Eagles closed the game by scoring the final three goals and Stony Brook went on to win by the final score of 19-7.
 
Graduate goalie Emily Manning checked into the game to start the second quarter and saw action in the second and third quarters. The graduate surrendered just two goals and made all five of the Seawolves' saves in her 30 minutes of play. Manning picked up the win in net and improved her record to 10-2 on the season.
 
Graduate attack Alex Finn finished the game second on the team in points with four (three goals, one assist) in her first NCAA Tournament game as a Seawolf. Graduate attack Kailyn Hart and Verhulst each tallied three points apiece. Hart tallied two goals and an assist, while Verhulst added a goal and two assists.
 
STATS AND NOTES

• Stony Brook advanced to its 11^th consecutive NCAA Tournament second round and improved to 9-0 all-time in first round games (earn first round byes in 2015 & 2018).
• The Seawolves move to 5-1 all-time in neutral site NCAA Tournament games.
• Stony Brook's 18 wins are the most since it won 20 games in 2018. The 18 wins are tied for the third-most in a season in program history (won a record 20 games in 2017 & 2018, won 18 games in 2015).
• The 19 goals were the most that the Seawolves scored in an NCAA Tournament game since scoring 20 goals against Rutgers in the second round on May 16, 2021. 
• Masera recorded her third game this season of 10 points or more. It was the fourth time this season that she scored six or more goals in a game and fourth time she dished out four or more assists. Masera set the CAA single-season record for points as she is now up to 114 points this season. She recorded five draw controls to lead the team.
• Finn recorded four points (three goals, one assist). It was her fourth hat trick of the season and 12^th time that she tallied four or more points in a game.
• Manning earned the win in the cage as she made five saves in 30 minutes of action and picked up one ground ball.
• Verhulst registered a three-point day with a goal and two assists. It was her 13^th game of three points or more this season and has recorded three or more points in nine of her last 11 games. The graduate added three draw controls and two ground balls.
• Hart had three points of her own with two goals and one assist. She has recorded multi-goal games in 16 of 19 games this season.
• Graduate attack Morgan Mitchell, graduate attack Jolie Creo, and junior midfielder Alexandra Fusco all tallied two points apiece. Mitchell finished with a goal and an assist, while Creo and Fusco each netted two goals each.
• Junior defender Avery Hines added to her program single-season caused turnovers recorded with three more to bring her season total to 63.
• Senior midfielder Jaden Hampel scored a goal, caused three turnovers, and picked up three ground balls.
• Senior defender Clare Levy anchored the defense with four draw controls and two caused turnovers.
• Stony Brook outshot Niagara, 36-15, and sent 27 shots on goal to Niagara's 12.

QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
 
NEXT UP
Stony Brook advances to the NCAA Tournament second round to face No. 3 seed Syracuse on Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. The game will be played at the SU Soccer Stadium on Syracuse's campus and is set to air on ESPN+.
 
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