WEST CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University women's lacrosse sophomore Arden Kassaleh (Pompton Plains, N.J.) set the individual game record with 11 points and 10 goals as the #4 seed Cougars defeated #5 seed Wilmington University 18-12 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship Quarterfinals.

The Cougars post their first-ever post season victory in the program's fifth season and advance to Saturday's CACC Championship Semifinals where they face the top seed in Georgian Court University. The CACC Championship Semifinals and Championship game will be held on the Georgian Court campus. 

The Cougars improve to 6-8 overall, while the Wildcats end their season at 7-10.
 
Caldwell got off to an early lead as Kassaleh and junior Jessica Collum (Wayne, N.J.) netted the first two goals of the game for a 2-0 lead. Wilmington answered with two goals as they tied the score with 24:27 left in the first half.
 
The Cougars responded with five straight goals to pull ahead 7-2 midway through the opening half. Kassaleh assisted on a goal by freshman Samantha Murphy (Pompton Plains, N.J.) at the 23:04 mark. Sophomore Amber Raines (Millville, N.J.) added a goal, while Kassaleh netted three goals to help the Cougars take the lead.
 
The Wildcats scored a pair of goals to cut the score to 7-4 but Caldwell answered with two goals. Junior Maryellen McCarthy (Levittown, N.Y.) and Raines scored for the Cougars to extend their lead to 9-4. Kassaleh netted a pair of goals down the stretch, while Collum added a goal and senior Pamela Schenck (East Moriches, N.Y.) recorded two assists to give Caldwell a 12-6 lead at halftime.
 
Wilmington battled back early in the second half as they closed the gap to 14-11 with 18:22 left in the game. Murphy and Schenck netted goals early in the half for the Cougars.
 
Kassaleh scored four goals over the final 14 minutes to help Caldwell pull away with an 18-11 lead. Wilmington added a late goal but the Cougars took the win to advance to the CACC semifinals.
 
The Cougars were paced by Kassaleh's record setting day as she finished with 10 goals, one assist, three ground balls, three caused turnovers and six draw controls. Schenck added one goal, four assists, four ground balls and five caused turnovers. Collum totaled two goals and one assist, while Murphy tallied two goals, one assist, five ground balls, three caused turnovers and five draw controls. Raines chipped in two goals, two caused turnovers and three draw controls. Junior Rachel Lucia (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) posted four ground balls and three draw controls. Junior goalie Nancy Benedetto (Jupiter, Fla.) recorded 13 saves in the win.

The Cougars take on top seed Georgian Court on Saturday, April 28 in the CACC Championship Semifinals at noon on the Georgian Court campus.