AMHERST, Mass. – Second-seeded Massachusetts got four goals and three assists out of Kaitlyn Cerasi to defeat No. 4 Saint Joseph's 18-7 and win the 2021 Atlantic 10 Lacrosse Championship Sunday afternoon at Garber Field. It marks the 11^th overall title for the Minutewomen and the first since 2017.
UMass (15-2) receives the Atlantic 10's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.



Cerasi, who was named the Championship's Most Outstanding Player, scored three of her four goals and one of her assists in the first half to help UMass build a 10-5 halftime lead.

Kelly Marra, Haley Connaughton, Olivia Muscella, Stephanie Croke all scored first half goals for the Minutewomen, while Alex Finn, Maddy Moloney and Brinley Anderson joined the scoring in the second half. Marra and Croke each had three scores for UMass.

Massachusetts goalkeeper Lauren Hiller made six saves as part of a defensive effort that held the Hawks to 16 shots, 13 of which were on goal. UMass was dominant in the draw controls, winning 25 of the 27 chances. Caitlyn Petro, who was named to the All-Championship team, had 16 of those. Connaughton, Muscella, Hiller and Croke were also named to the All-Championship Team.

Bridget Cerciello, Riley Delaney, Stephanie Kelly, Sophia Kolkka, Julia Pash and Alyssa Manley all recorded goals for Saint Joseph's (10-7), with Kelly leading the Hawk Offense with two goals and an assists. Kolkka, Kelly and Cerciello were all named to the All-Championship team, as was SJU goalie Melissa Semkiw, who made nine saves Sunday and was brilliant in Friday semifinal upset of top-seeded Richmond.

Davidson's Julianne Carey and Lindsey Frank from Richmond were also named to the All-Championship team.