FINAL SCORE: Stony Brook 3, Vermont 1
LOWELL, Mass. – The top seed from Division B Stony Brook scored two goals in just under three minutes to come from behind Thursday evening and defeat Vermont 3-1 in the America East Semifinals from UMass Lowell. The Seawolves advance to face the Binghamton Bearcats in the America East Championship at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"I'm extremely proud of how our team played tonight," said head coach Kristi Huizenga. "We've fought so much adversity throughout this year as have many others. Our three seniors were tremendous all night, and I'm proud of everything they have done for this program and in their careers."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UVM opened the scoring just 52 seconds into the semifinal tilt. Cricket Basa controlled a cross in the box and tapped the ball over to Frances O'Donnell who was unmarked and fired a shot into the far corner for her first goal of the season. Basa earned her second assist of the year on the tally.
• Vermont goalkeeper Lydia Kessel made six saves in the first half preserving the UVM lead through the opening 45 minutes. Two of Kessel's six saves came against America East's leading scorer Stony Brook's Alyssa Francese.
• In the 61st minute Kessel robbed Francese of a certain goal. Francese fired a shot for the top left corner and a diving Kessel tapped it just over the bar.
• Just a minute later UVM's Alexa Mihale was inches away from doubling the Vermont lead. Her long-distance shot hit the crossbar but fell harmlessly out of bounds.
• The Seawolves were able to equalize on their 16th shot on goal of the evening. Stony Brook's Chelsie DePonte fired a blast into the top right corner from just outside the box for her fifth goal of the season.
• Just 2:22 later the Seawolves grabbed their first lead of the night. With a cross played into the box Kessel punched the ball out in traffic but a Stony Brook player crossed it back towards the net and Francese headed a ball directly into Kessel. Kessel made a diving stop but Francese was able to poke the rebound home for her conference-leading sixth goal of the year.
• With the Catamounts pushing for the equalizer late in the game Stony Brook's Tatum Kauka added an insurance mark for the Seawolves in the 88th minute.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Kessel's 17 saves are tied for the third-most by a Division I women's goalkeeper in a single game this season.
• The 17 saves are also an America East women's soccer postseason single game record. The previous mark was held by Stony Brook's Ashley Castanio who made 16 saves in a double overtime semifinal against Maine on November 3, 2013.
• First year midfielder Delaney Ross made her first career start Thursday evening.