Season ends for Penn women

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Playing on the road against top-seeded Maryland on Saturday, the Penn women's lacrosse team already was in a tough spot in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.

But the Quakers compounded their problem by falling behind at the Terrapins' Ludwig Field. After playing catch-up just about all game, Penn wound up with a 15-10 loss that snapped the No. 8-seeded Quakers' six-game winning streak and ended their season short of the Final Four for the first time in four years.

Eight minutes, 18 seconds remained when Maryland scored three times during a two-minute stretch to seal the win. The rally put the Terrapins up by 15-9.

With the victory, Maryland (20-1) moved into Friday's national semifinals in Towson, Md., against No. 10 Syracuse (15-6), a 7-3 winner Saturday over No. 7 James Madison.

No. 3 North Carolina (17-2) and No. 2 Northwestern (19-1) will meet in the other semifinal. The Tar Heels ousted Virginia, 17-7. The Cavaliers (14-6) were playing their first road game since senior defender Yeardley Love was slain three weeks ago.

Northwestern advanced with an 18-8 win over Duke (14-6).

Penn (15-4) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by midfielder Emma Spiro 1:48 into the game. The next four goals were scored by Maryland, however, and the Terrapins kept the pressure on the Quakers.

"They showed why they are the No. 1 seed," said Penn coach Karin Brower Corbett. "They have a very potent attack, and we knew that."

The Terrapins, who had a 6-4 lead at halftime, were tested but did not wilt.

Spiro had four goals, while Ali DeLuca, the Ivy League player of the year, scored three. Maryland was led by Caitlyn McFadden, who collected five goals and three assists.

Spiro and DeLuca were two of eight seniors playing their last games as Quakers. As freshmen, they had helped Penn gain its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The Quakers played in the title game in 2008 and the semifinals last season.

Division II. Jackie Hoover scored the tying goal with 1:27 remaining in the second half and netted the game-winner with 1:17 left in the first three-minute overtime session, giving No. 5 West Chester a 9-8 semifinal victory over No. 2 Lock Haven (16-2) at Clark Field in Gettysburg.

In the title game at 3 p.m. Sunday, West Chester (19-1) will face No. 3 Adelphi (18-1), which beat No. 1 C.W. Post, 14-9. Post finished 16-2.

Division III. In the quarterfinals, Hamilton topped Franklin and Marshall, 12-7, and Salisbury beat Gettysburg, 20-12.

In Division I quarterfinals in Princeton, Notre Dame upset Maryland, 7-5, and Duke ousted North Carolina, 17-9.

Sean Rogers scored three goals to lead the unseeded Fighting Irish (9-6) in their upset of No. 3 Maryland (12-4).

Zach Howell scored four goals for fifth-seeded Duke (14-4), which reached its fourth consecutive national semifinal. Fourth-seeded North Carolina finished with a 13-3 record.

Division II. Top-seeded C.W. Post beat Dowling, 9-8, and No. 3 Le Moyne topped No. 5 Limestone, 11-7, in the semis.