DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Kristin Paolini had a simple message for her Roberts Wesleyan College women's lacrosse team shortly after its historic, heart-stopping 10-9 win over Mercy in the East Coast Conference championship game on Saturday afternoon.

"To celebrate," Paolini said. "The entire season we kept pushing them to learn and focus on what is next. Right now, we want them to focus on having fun with each other and celebrating together. We can get serious about what's next on Sunday (when the NCAA field is announced)."

If any team deserves a moment to exhale, it is the 16^th-ranked Redhawks (13-1).

Roberts never trailed in the game, but saw the top-seeded and 15^th-ranked host Mavericks (12-2) rally from a six-goal halftime deficit to tie the game twice in the final 13 minutes before the second-seeded Redhawks netted the winner on a goal by senior Taylor Nathan with 2:33 to play.

"We never do it the easy way, that's for sure," Nathan said.

But, they get the job done because each member buys into the culture Paolini and her staff have created.

"We're not friends, we are sisters," Paolini said. "We are a family and we lift each other up. That feeling of doing it for each other carried us through."

As does experience. Nathan converted a beautiful feed from graduate student Jessica Giancursio for the decisive goal.

"I saw Jess going around the net looking to pass and then my defender turned her head a little bit," Nathan said. "I  took my chance and cut in. It was all muscle memory. I didn't really think about where the ball was going when I shot it, it went in the net, so it went where I wanted it to go."

"Those are two veterans who have played together for four years, and they know how each other works," Paolini said. "When Jess sees an open teammate cutting, she is going to get her the ball and when Taylor catches the ball in a position like that, she is going to finish."

The Redhawks won the ensuing draw control before Mercy forced a turnover and regained possession. The Roberts defense, led by goalie Natalie Arieno, came up huge on two occasions in the final 41 seconds to secure the title.

"We have a phenomenal defense," Paolini said. "We may not get the awards and all of the big stats, but that's because it's not just our goalie or one player. It's our entire defense and I knew that we were going to pull through."

"I had all of the confidence in the world that our defense was going to pull through," said sophomore Caitlin Tucker, who led Roberts with four caused turnovers. "We practice all of those situations at the end of practice all of the time and all of that hard work paid off."

As the final seconds ticked away, Arieno had the ball where she wanted it – in her stick.

"Oh yeah, I was ready for a chase," said Arieno, who made nine saves and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. "I love it when the opposing players have to chase me, because I am not a slow goalie."

A fast start fueled Roberts early, as the Redhawks jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first 7:39. Mercy got on the board with 21:56 remaining in the first half, but Roberts rattled off a 5-0 run to take a 7-1 lead into halftime.

Junior Madison Bell registered all five of her points (two goals, three assists) and senior Emily Tomei had three goals and one assist for Roberts in the first 20 minutes of the game before receiving a controversial second yellow card.

Nathan scored both of her goals in the second half and Kelsey Simmons, Gemma Guy and Lindsey Brinkel also scored for the Redhawks. Giancursio finished with two assists and Brinkel also added a helper.

Mercy (12-1) regrouped at the break and scored five goals while holding Roberts scoreless over the first 17:19 of the second half.

Guy converted a turnover to end the Roberts' drought with 10:29 remaining and Nathan converted a free position opportunity to make it 9-7 just 43 seconds later.

Mercy rallied again, scoring twice in 53 seconds to make the score 9-9 with seven minutes to play. Giancursio and Nathan worked their magic about four and a half minutes later.

The victory gave Roberts a 2-1 edge over Mercy this season, with all three games played on the Mavericks' home field.

Roberts won 11-10 at Mercy on March 20, but the Mavericks turned the table and defeated the Redhawks 12-6 in the regular-season finale on May 1.

Roberts will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Division II East Regional on May 14 and 16.

Seedings for the NCAA Tournament will be announced at 8 p.m. Sunday.