Lehigh alum Fitzpatrick wins National Championship with Maryland

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh women’s lacrosse alum Alex Fitzpatrick ’14 capped off a tremendous season with the top-ranked Maryland Terrapins by winning a National Championship on Sunday night. Fitzpatrick made four saves, including two big second-half stops, to lead the Terrapins to a 9-8 win over North Carolina, Maryland’s second straight National Title. The Yorktown Heights, N.Y. native graduated Lehigh last spring, then Maryland head coach Cathy Reese came calling. Injured early her sophomore season, Fitzpatrick received a medical, allowing her to play a fifth year while working towards her master’s degree at Maryland.

“I am so incredibly proud of Alex tonight,” said Lehigh head coach Jill Redfern. “I can’t think of a more deserving person to win a National Championship. Our staff, our team and our entire Lehigh community are thrilled for her and her team’s success.”

Entering Sunday’s Championship Game, Fitzpatrick owned a 6.97 GAA and .458 save percentage. She was named to the All-Big Ten Team, her third All-Conference honor in her career. Fitzpatrick was named the First Team All-Patriot League goalie as both a freshman (in 2011) and senior (in 2014).

Just over five minutes into the second half of Sunday’s Title Game, Maryland trailed 6-4. Fitzpatrick’s third save of the game was a beauty, stopping a point-blank opportunity in transition. The Terps answered with a goal on the ensuing possessions as they went on to score the first five second-half goals to take an 8-6 lead.

Fitzpatrick finished her Lehigh career with a 9.61 GAA and .477 save percentage. She posted an 8.66 GAA and .506 save percentage as a freshman then 8.52 GAA and .500 save percentage as a senior.

The 2015 Mountain Hawks wrapped up a strong season highlighted by a seven-game road winning streak, a road win against Rutgers in front of a nationally-televised audience and the team’s second straight postseason appearance. Lehigh’s defense was especially strong as the Mountain Hawks finished the season 9-8 and earned the #5 seed in the Patriot League Tournament.

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