Patchogue, NY (April 30, 2016) – Purchase women's lacrosse challenged No. 1 St. Joseph's College-LI Saturday, drawing even early before the undefeated, defending champion Golden Eagles pulled away for a 12-7 final.

The Panthers were on their way to the postseason anyway. Purchase (9-3, 5-2 Skyline), playing for seeding Saturday, is now the third seed. It will travel to Farmingdale State Wednesday night. In the process, for the second straight year, Purchase is postseason bound.

The Senior Day win improved SJC-LI's record to 11-4 overall, including 7-0 in conference. It also secured the program's second-consecutive undefeated league regular-season championship.

Purchase's Emma Porter (SO/Homer, NY) opened the scoring 4:52 into the game but the hosts answered with successive tallies five minutes later to go in front at 20:37.

Porter potted her second at 19:52 with a man-advantage to knot the game at two, but the SJC response came in the form of Ally Johnston and Jessica Cordano marks at 15:46 and 15:14, respectively.

A pair of goals from Kelly Turtell (JR/Farmingdale, NY) at 12:02 and 10:30 tied the game once more (4-4), but it was a 4-0 run from the Golden Eagles to end the half that saw the hosts take an 8-4 lead into the break.

Although the Panthers would also get scores from three others (Samantha Rich (SR/Providence, RI), Annette Elson (JR/Las Vegas, NV) and Nathalie Lavelanet (SR/South Salem, NY), the Golden Eagles opened with three second-half goals en route to the win. They will now host SUNY Old Westbury in the other semifinal Wednesday night.

-SJC-LI Sports Information Contributed to this report