LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The No. 1 Lock Haven University lacrosse team advanced to the NCAA Final Four with a dominating, 12-3 victory over No. 7 Rollins College today at home in NCAA Division II First Round action.
 
Lock Haven (19-0), the South Region's No. 1 seed earned the right to host the NCAA First Round matchup against the No. 4 seed Rollins College (13-5) today at home on Charlotte Smith Field.
 
Senior Jessica Pandolf (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) led all-scorers with a game-high four goals, four groundballs, and three draw controls. Pandolf added two caused turnovers and shot 2-for-3 on free positions.
 
Rachel Ward (Indianapolis/Bishop Chatard) netted a hat trick and Kelly Hamilton (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) added a pair of goals to drive the balanced Haven attack.  Hamilton added three caused turnovers in the win.
 
Jilly Murray (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) was sensational with an all-around effort.  The senior-attacker netted a pair of goals and dished out a team-high three assists. 
 
Goalie Chrissy Baffuto (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) led the Haven defensively with seven crucial saves.
 
The Bald Eagles were 12-for-14 on clear attempts and outdrew Rollins 10-to-7.
 
After 16 scoreless minutes for Lock Haven, Murray put the Bald Eagles on the board to tie the Tars, 1-1. The late-half goal ignited the Haven offense as LHU led Rollins 7-1 at the break.
 
Freshman Alex O'Herrick (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) set the tone at the start of the second half with a goal in the first 41 seconds of action. 
 
Rollins responded with a goal by Tyler Thomas to trail, 8-2 with 22 minutes remaining.
 
Despite the midfield battle in the remaining minutes to play, the Lock Haven defense was outstanding, allowing an additional goal in the 58^th minute.
As the clock wound down, the Bald Eagles sealed a 12-3 victory. 
 
Tyler Thomas led the Tars with a hat trick and three groundballs.
 
Goalie Malorie Olin recorded eight saves for Rollins and Kristina Coppolino recorded three groundballs.
 
With the win today, Lock Haven improved to a perfect 19-0. The 19 straight wins mark the longest winning streak in school history. The Bald Eagles haven't lost since the 2014 National Championship game.
 
The victory also puts Lock Haven back in the NCAA DII Final Four for the second straight year and they will meet a familiar face in a rematch of a thrilling 2014 NCAA National Semifinal vs. Lindenwood.
 
Last season in the NCAA Semifinals, Lock Haven beat Lindendwood 10-9 in a heart-stopping overtime thriller. Earlier this season (April 6), Lock Haven beat Lindenwood 8-5 in Lock Haven.
 
Earlier today Lindenwood , the No. 2 seed out of the South Region advanced to the semifinals with a 14-13 double-overtime victory over three-seed Florida Southern.
 
In the North Region, No. 1 seed Adelphi beat Stonehill 10-6 and No. 2 seed Le Moyne topped New Haven 13-9.
 
Lock Haven will take on Lindenwood next Saturday, May 16 at 3 p.m. at Kerr Stadium on the campus of Roanoke College, in Salem, Virginia. Adelphi and Le Moyne will face off at 11 a.m.
 
Much more on Lock Haven's trip to the NCAA Final Four will be posted at www.GoLHU.com in the coming days.