CHICOPEE - Drama was in short supply in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament semifinals Tuesday at Elms College, as is often the case in games involving the Longmeadow girls lacrosse team.

No. 5 South Hadley stayed closer than many Lancer victims, but could not keep up with the perennial power and fell 19-5. After being shut out 17-0 in the most recent regular-season meeting between the teams, the Tigers believe they made progress on Tuesday.

"We wanted to give them a strong, competitive game and I think we did that," South Hadley coach Leslie Goelz said. "I was really happy with our performance. The girls were proud and I couldn't be more proud of their performance this season."

Top-seeded Longmeadow (17-1) advanced to face No. 3 Minnechaug (17-3) in the final at Elms College on Sunday at a time to be determined. The Falcons won 12-11 over No. 2 Agawam (16-3) in the other semifinal Tuesday.

Taking advantage of its dominance on draws, Longmeadow had a 3-0 lead before South Hadley even touched the ball. Sarah Hannigan scored her first of five goals 53 seconds into the game on an assist from Shea Kusiak. The same combination produced another goal 46 seconds later.

South Hadley (12-8) never got closer. Ciara Dudeck (five goals, four assists) made it 3-0 with 20:09 left in the half, putting the Tigers on their heels immediately.

Nora McDonough got South Hadley on the board when she converted a free position goal with 18:39 remaining.

But Longmeadow crushed any hopes of an uprising by the underdog with four straight goals to increase its lead to 7-1.

Katie Tierney scored with 8:32 left in the half to draw South Hadley within 7-2 at intermission.

Paige Cuscovitch of Longmeadow, who was named a high school All-American earlier Tuesday, scored 11 seconds into the second half to make the score 8-2.

Then South Hadley briefly found life. After the Tigers earned a rare draw control, Madeline Brandts beat new Lancer goalie Marissa McDermott 51 seconds into the half to make it 8-3. Another draw win led to a goal by Abbey Lemanski that brought the Tigers within 8-4.

But Longmeadow put the gas pedal down and scored 10 straight goals to win going away.

After Katie Cavanaugh added a late goal for the Tigers, the Lancers scored their final goal in the last 10 seconds.

Goalkeeper Lyndsey Brandts made 15 saves for South Hadley.

Liz Holmes played goal for Longmeadow in the first half. She and McDermott each made one save.

It was the final high school game for South Hadley seniors Rachel Leary, McDonough and Lemanski.

"Longmeadow is always a tough team to play. I thought we put up a good fight," McDonough said. "I can't complain.

"This season was tough at the beginning and we came together so much as a team," she added. "It was a good way to finish. It's awesome to come back to the tournament and put up a good fight against the best team in the state."

Goelz said it was a valuable experience for her returning players.

"We were giving experience to some of the girls who came up from junior varsity and some of the players that don't always start," Goelz said. "We wanted to give all our girls an opportunity to play the toughest of the tough."

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com.