In a first for both programs, the men's and women's lacrosse teams will compete for an East Coast Conference Championship tomorrow (May 3). Both teams will take on top-seeded Mercy University from Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
 
The women's team will kick off the action at 11:00 a.m.
Watch | Live stats | Tickets
 
How They Got Here
The Lions (9-8) earned the three-seed in the ECC Tournament after taking a share of the Regular Season Championship following a 5-1 record in league play along with Roberts Wesleyan and Mercy. Molloy matched up against second-seeded Roberts Wesleyan in the Semifinal round of the tournament, marking the seventh-straight postseason contest between the two programs. The Lions came out on top with a 16-15 victory on Wednesday evening, snapping a nine-game losing streak against the Redhawks to advance to the program's first-ever Championship Game
Senior midfielder Brenna Signorelli matched a career-high five goals to lead Molloy. Senior attacker Megan Rugolo had five points on three goals and two assists while controlling a game-high 10 draws. Sophomore goalie Nicole Schaumloffel made five saves, including one in the fourth quarter to stop Roberts Wesleyan from tying the contest.
 
Mercy (10-6) handled fourth-seeded Daemen 21-2 in their semifinal match. The Mavericks scored the first five goals of the contest and never looked back. Freshman midfielder Kayden Meyer led with six points on five goals and one assist. Sophomore midfielder Riley Wallace and freshman midfielder Ashlinn Kelly each added five points and combined for seven goals. Junior goalkeeper Olivia LaMonica made four saves in the win.
 
Last Time Out
The Lions and Mavericks had an epic high-scoring bout when the teams met in the regular season. In a game that went back and forth both in offense and in weather, Molloy walked away the victor with a 19-18 overtime win from Rockville Centre. The Lions trailed by three headed into the final five minutes of the contest when goals from seniors Rugolo, Alexa Amorison, and Sofia Quitoni tied the game and forced an extra frame. It would take nearly the entire six minutes of extra time to determine a winner, but Rugolo converted on a free position to seal the win for the Lions.
 
Rugolo had a season-high eight points on five goals and three assists in the effort. Quitoni scored six goals and added an assist for seven points. Shaumloffel made 12 saves in net. For Mercy, Wallace led the attack with nine points on seven goals and two assists followed by four goals and two assists from Kelly. Senior defender Lindsey Shimborske won a game-high 10 draws for the Mavs while LaMonica's 14 saves were not enough for a win.
 
Historically Speaking
Molloy enters the contest with an 8-9 all-time record against the Mavericks. Each of the Lions' last two victories over Mercy have come from Rockville Centre and would take extra time. The team's last victory from Dobbs Ferry came back in the 2014 season. The teams last met in the postseason in the semifinal round of the 2019 ECC Tournament with Mercy winning 19-9.
 
The men's contest will immediately follow the women at approximately 2:00 p.m.
Watch | Live stats | Tickets
 
How They Got Here
The Lions (14-4) earned the second-seed in the East Coast Conference Tournament after putting together a program record 13 wins overall and a program best five East Coast Conference wins. Molloy matched up against third-seeded Frostburg State in the Semifinal round of the tournament, marking the first home playoff game in program history. After falling behind, 3-0, in the opening 4:41 of play The Lions responded scoring the games next eight of 10 goals to propel them to a 19-9 triumph on Wednesday afternoon, advancing to the program's first-ever Championship Game. Senior attacker Luke Hickam totaled six points (four goals and two assists) to lead the squad. Junior attacker Tommy Corcoron netted a career-high five goals. Junior midfielder Brian Green totaled four points on the back of one goal and three assists. Senior Noah Taylor (two goals and one assist) and juniors Bryan Diliberto (three assists) and Jake Taylor (three goals) totaled three points each. At the face off X, the squad won 56 percent of the time, led by junior Brandon Pazienza who won 12 and freshman Zachary Maligres who took in five. Senior goalie Christian Michaels made 11 saves.
 
Mercy (10-3) hosted fourth-seeded Roberts Wesleyan in the day's first semi-final. While the Redhawks made a furious comeback to knot the contest at eight in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks would score the contests final three goals to earn a berth into the final, 11-8, for the sixth straight time beginning in 2019. Graduate student attacker Aidan Babnik led with five points on four goals and one assist. Graduate student attacker Jimmy Osario (three goals) and senior attacker Ryan Smith (two goals and one assist) collected three points apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Cameron Dorfman made 13 saves in the win.
 
Last Time Out
The Lions and Mavericks battled for the top seed in the tournament in the regular season finale. In a game that saw momentum switch from half to half, the cardinal and white would slip, 13-12, in overtime. The Lions trailed by three with 9:26 to play, but Green netted two goals including the game-tying tally and Hickam combined to score three goals in the final 7:51 to send the contest to overtime. In the final 9:26 of action, Michaels made four key saves to keep the Lions within striking distance.
 
Historically Speaking
Molloy enters the contest with an 1-17 all-time record against the Mavericks. The two squads have gotten together in the last two ECC Semifinals in Dobbs Ferry and will play each other for the conference crown for the first time on Saturday.