SBU’s Courtney Murphy sets single-season NCAA goals record
Stony Brook attacker Courtney Murphy scores her 99th goal of the season past Boston College goalkeeper Zoe Ochoa to break the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse record for goals in a season during the first round of the NCAA women's lacrosse championship tournament on Friday, May 13, 2016. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Courtney Murphy is second to none.
The junior from Shirley now holds the Division I women’s lacrosse single-season goals record after scoring her 99th as part of a four-goal performance in Stony Brook’s 11-9 win over host Boston College in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.
“I’m always team first, but it’s such an accomplishment for me,” Murphy said. “It’s definitely kind of a burden off my back, so we can focus on Syracuse without having any nerves about it.”
Countless records have fallen at Murphy’s feet this season, including the program’s career goals record and the America East’s single-season points mark. She has averaged more than five goals per game.
Murphy now has 231 goals with over a full season left in her career, putting her within striking distance of the Division I career record of 289 held by Gail Cummings, who played 69 games for Temple from 1985 to 1988.
Stony Brook (17-3) needed everything it could get from their star attacker against Boston College (10-9), as the Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and never trailed by more than three.
Three of Murphy’s goals put Stony Brook ahead, with her third giving the Seawolves a 9-8 advantage from which they wouldn’t look back.
Her fourth with 5:19 remaining in the game broke the Division I record and put Stony Brook up 11-8.
Kylie Ohlmiller contributed two goals, while Dorrien Van Dyke, Kristin Yevoli, Alyssa Guido, Samantha DiSalvo and Kasey Mitchell each chipped in one.
The Seawolves will face Syracuse on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
LIU Post Advances in Division II
LIU Post bested New Haven, 11-6, at Le Moyne’s Ted Grant Field in Syracuse in the opening round of the Division II NCAA tournament behind five goals from Centerport’s Honey Roche.
The Pioneers opened with five unanswered goals — two by Roche — and went to the half with a 6-2 advantage. The senior added another score in the last minute of the half before scoring twice more in the second to pace Post.
Emily Delaney contributed two goals and an assist, while Farmingdale’s Olivia Kirk made seven saves.
LIU Post (17-3) will play Le Moyne College on Saturday at 3 p.m.
