LA PLUME, Pa. – The 2019 Notre Dame lacrosse team are the Colonial States Athletic Conference Champions after an upset victory over the Giants.  The Gators secured a commanding 19-8 victory over Keystone College.  This was the team's first victory over the Giants this season after falling to them twice in the regular season.

The Gators pounced first, as senior Kirstin McGee notched her first goal of the game in the opening minute of play.  In the team's next series, senior Megan Morales scored her first off a free position shot to give the Gators a 2-0 lead with less than two minutes off the clock.

Notre Dame did not stop there, they eventually went up 4-0 over the Giants, before allowing Keystone to get on the board.  Morales and McGee combined for all of the team's opening goals.

NDMU pounded away in the first half, going into halftime with a 11-4 lead. 

In opening four minutes of the second half, both Keystone and Notre Dame went scoreless until the Giants notched their fifth with 25:46 on the clock.

Over the next 11 minutes, the Gators went on a 7-0 run to hold an 18-5 lead with 14 minutes left to play.  In the 22^nd minute, after the Gators went up by 10, the clock changed to a running clock situation, not stopping on penalties or scored goals.

CSAC Rookie of the Year, freshman Julie Hagis scored the team's final goal with 2:49 to secure the win. 

Six Gators scored in the win, led by Morales with nine.  She now has 286 career goals and now has over 100 in her senior season. 

McGee followed with five goals, adding a team leading three assists.  Junior Jessica Wells added two goals, while Hagis, junior Loren Pardoe, and senior Peace Ani added one apiece.  Freshmen Stephanie Morgan and Katie Hawkins added two assists each.

Morales and McGee also lead the team in draw controls, with Morales finishing with 13 and McGee with eight.

In goal for the Gators, sophomore Marie Salas was a dominate threat.  She recorded 12 saves, many fast breaks or free position.  Sophomore Calenna Cauley got some time in goal as well, recording one save.

This is the Notre Dame lacrosse team's first CSAC Championship and second for Notre Dame this season.  The Gators finished the season ranked third in the CSAC and fought their way up to the Championship. 

In the CSAC, Notre Dame finished first in total goals, assists, shots, points, and draw controls.

At the conclusion of the game, CSAC Player of the Year, Megan Morales was named the Most Valuable Player of the game.

Notre Dame will not have to wait long to find out their NCAA selection, as the selection show will take place tomorrow night at 9:30 p.m.