WASHINGTON - The Catholic University women's lacrosse team cruised to a 20-9 win over Susquehanna to take home the program's sixth Landmark Conference title on Saturday inside Cardinal Stadium.

Lindsay Brophy led the Cardinals with five goals and three assists, while Laura Dunn and Madeline Wilson added three goals each. Senior goalkeeper Yasmeen Ajdari was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after picking up 10 saves in her 11th win of the season.

The Crusaders struck first at 28:31 on Meredith Crane's free position shot before Lindsay Brophy answered with back to back scores for a 2-1 lead at 26:56. Just 10 seconds later Crane scored again to even the game.

With four goals in less than four minutes of action, what appeared to be headed into a high scoring shootout quickly turned into a rout as CUA scored five straight on goals from Clair Schmitzer, Anastasia Brandenburg, Dunn, Brophy, and Anna Stumme for a 7-2 lead at 20:19.

Emma Ehler scored to stop the bleeding for the Crusaders but the Cardinals rattled off six more goals to get a running clock with 3:11 left in the half as the Birds took a 13-3 lead into halftime. 

Five of the those goals were assisted as the Jenna Van Middelem got some help from Schmitzer, then set up Dunn. Dunn then set up Stumme and Brophy assisted on Nicole Laitner's goal. Van Middelem handed out her third assist of the day on Wilson's score to end the half.

After the break, the Crusaders seemed ready to start a comeback, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 13-5 just 1:02 into the second half action.

The Cardinals settled down as Wilson scored twice and Brophy added another goal. Caroline DiBartolomeo capped off the 4-0 run, giving the Cardinals their biggest lead of the game at 17-5.

Over the final 20 minutes, the Crusaders outscored Catholic 4-3, but the damage had already been done as CUA claimed its sixth Landmark title in seven years with the 20-9 win.

The Cardinals shutdown Michelle McGinniss, the Landmark Player of the Year to just two goals on the afternoon, after she scored five times in the regular season matchup.

Tori Neill had a game-high four caused turnovers, while the newly minted Rookie of the Year, Schmitzer had two goals, four assists, and four ground balls.

Alexis Bosilovic had a team-high four draw controls as the Cardinals held a 17 to 13 advantage in the circle.

CUA will learn where its headed for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday when the entire field is announced at 9:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

-CUA-