Mosenson back in Md. for national semifinals

Two years ago, Megan Mosenson was in a Maryland hospital.

The Great Valley graduate, now a junior attack on the Syracuse women's lacrosse team, pivoted during a warm-up drill. Mosenson heard a loud crack: the audio accompaniment of a fractured kneecap.

"I had a talk with the athletic trainer about not being able to play again," said Mosenson, who this season is tied for fourth on the team with 40 goals. "I've done a lot of rehab."

This weekend Mosenson, along with Archbishop Carroll product Jackie DePetris, will make another trip to Maryland.

Her No. 5 Orange (18-2) are making their first appearance in the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse final four and will play three-time defending champ and top seed Northwestern (19-1) tonight at 6 in the first of two semifinals at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md.

Second-seeded Penn (19-1) will face unseeded Duke (13-7) in the nightcap, scheduled to start at 8:30.

Northwestern and Syracuse have the two top offenses in the nation.

Germantown Academy graduate Colleen Magarity, a freshman midfielder for the Wildcats, has played in 16 games and scored one goal.

Northwestern's only loss came April 27 against the Quakers, 11-7. Penn coach Karin Brower said the win gave her team confidence.

At the May 8 NCAA selection show, the Quakers' coaching staff distributed T-shirts emblazoned "In it to win it."

"Last year, we were excited to be there; of course, we

wanted

to win it, but it was a shocker we were there," Brower said. "This season, having beaten Northwestern, we really think we can win a national championship."

The Quakers, making their second-straight semifinal appearance, face a Duke team that's making its fourth straight.

The Blue Devils feature Radnor product Christie Barnes, a sophomore midfielder with one goal and one assist in 11 games; Merion Mercy's Taylor Fleming, a freshman defender; and Sarah Giedgowd, a sophomore defender from Conestoga who has started 16 games.

The title game is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m.

All games will be shown live on CBS College Sports Network.