Old Westbury, N.Y. — The NYIT women's lacrosse team steamrolled into the semifinals of the East Coast Conference playoffs.

The third-seeded Bears ousted No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas, 19-9, on Tuesday at President's Stadium in an opening-round matchup.

NYIT advances to face second-seeded Mercy on Thursday at noon in Dobbs Ferry.

The Mavericks won the regular-season matchup, 13-7, at President's Stadium on April 3.

Against STAC in the quarterfinals, Karie Znaniecki set the tone with a goal off a pass from Lexi Ruiz only 72 seconds into the game and NYIT never trailed.

Znaniecki had five goals. Ruiz, Alyssa Milano and Angelina Cuevas had three apiece. Ruiz also tallied three assists.

Cuevas' final score, with 20 seconds remaining, gave her 100 career goals during her collegiate career between NYIT and Whittier College.

The Bears improved to 14-4.

Provided by the NYIT Sports Information Department.