Saturday, May 18 - Mustang Stadium - Stevenson
University
NCAA National Semifinal - No. 2 Limestone vs. No. 3 Rollins -
7:30 p.m.
Back in the NCAA National Semifinal for the second consecutive
year, Rollins will meet Limestone in Saturday's second Semifinal at
7:30 p.m; top-seed LIU Post squares off with Adelphi in the day's
first Semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Stevenson University serves as host
and will oversee all games at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills, Md.
Rollins is coming off a first round win over Lock Haven last
Saturday and will look to make a NCAA Final appearance for the
first time in program history. Live streaming video along with live
stats will be available on RollinsSports.com through NCAA.com.
ROLLINS AT A GLANCE: The Tars (16-1) have been
one of the top teams in all of Division II the entire season,
spending every week in the national poll, opening the season fifth
and rising as high as third in the most recent IWLCA National poll.
Rollins was 9-1 at home in 2013 and posted a perfect record of 7-0
away from Winter Park.
After a hard-fought exhibition game at home against Adelphi,
Rollins went into the regular season with high expectations. Out of
the gate, the Tars picked up a 21-12 win on the road at Queens to
begin a streak of six consecutive wins, including wins over top-10
opponents Stonehill and Bentley, heading into a long awaited battle
with Limestone on March 13 at home.
After a back and forth battle, the Saints would eventually hand
Rollins their first lost of the season by a final of 13-12. After
the loss, the Tars responded with nine straight victories to close
out the regular season, including an 18-12 thrashing of in-state
rival Florida Southern to close the year on senior day.
Finishing the regular season with an overall record of 15-1, the
Tars earned a bid in NCAA Tournament for the second time in program
history. Serving as the No. 2 seed in the South, Rollins hosted
third-seed Lock Haven in the first round. The Tars jumped out to an
early lead over the Lady Eagles and held on late, eventually
winning by a score of 11-10. The win marked the first ever
postseason victory in program history. With the victory, Rollins
earned a birth into Saturday's NCAA National Semifinal.
Rollins is led by a trio of first team All-Americans: Erica
Pagliarulo, Katie
Palasz, and Courtney
Bianculli. The All-American first team honor is the second in
the careers of Pagliarulo and Bianculli while Palasz was recognized
on the second team back in 2012. Pagliarulo leads the Tars with 40
goals while Bianculli's 30 ground balls trails only Palasz for the
team lead, who has an imposing 48.
In goal, junior Elyse De
Lisle ranks among the nation's best, starting all 17 games thus
far, allowing a modest 9.03 goals per game, racking up 117 saves in
over 950 minutes in the cage.
Rollins offense averages 15.5 goals a game, but Coach Short's
suffocating defense is holding opponents to just 9.2 a contest. The
Tars are ninth in Division II in caused turnovers, averaging an
even 10 a game.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Including 2013's first
round win, Rollins is now 1-1 in NCAA Tournament, making their
first ever trip last season, falling in the NCAA National Semifinal
to West Chester, 19-10.
THE COACHES: Rollins leader Dennis
Short (Ursinus '93) is in his sixth year at the helm of the
program and carries a career record of 68-24. He has been the head
coach of the Tars since the program's inception in 2008.
MUSTANG STADIUM - STEVENSON
UNIVERSITY
