March 16, 2008

Box Score

Hempstead, N.Y. - Sophomore Allison Tumulty notched the game-winning goal at 8:11, breaking a 12-12 tie, as the #4 Adelphi University women's lacrosse team edged #8 Mercyhurst, 14-12, in its season home-opener this afternoon. The Panthers improve to 3-0, while the Lakers drop to 3-2.

Mercyhurst struck first, as Kate Smith scored unassisted in the second minute of play. Under a minute later, senior Megan Metelenis tallied the first of her two goals on a feed from junior Rachel Ray. Freshman Michelle Ceraso put the Panthers ahead on a free position goal, but the Lakers knotted the score at 2-2, with 21:25 on the clock. Ray assisted on the next goal by sophomore Holly Burke, before registering a free position goal at 11:17 to give Adelphi a 4-2 advantage. The Lakers kept it close, trailing by just one goal with 4:42 remaining in the half. Then the Panthers rattled off three unanswered goals, capped by Tumulty's first of the day on a free position with 1:03 on the clock. Breanna Haggerty scored for Mercyhurst with 14 seconds to go to make it an 8-5 game at intermission.

Ray opened the second stanza with back-to-back goals, as Metelenis assisted on the latter, to make it 10-5 at 25:55. Both team traded goals before the Lakers rallied on a 3-0 run, 11-9, at 19:08. Ceraso slowed the Mercyhurst roll with an unassisted goal at 18:08, but the Lakers again picked up steam, scoring three more uncontested goals. Kimberly Masterston knotted the game at 12 on a free position goal at 9:15.

Ray had five assists in the game, including the feed to Tumulty to put the Panthers up 13-12. Sophomore Vanessa Sotcheff recorded her second goal of the game with 6:15 left in regulation as Adelphi held on for the win.

Three players recorded a hat trick for Mercyhurst, led by Jesse Horeth who also added three assists, followed by Masterson with two assists and Haggerty.

Sophomore Caitlin Fitzpatrick made 14 saves on 34 shots faced for the win. Maeve McGoff had 10 stops for Mercyhurst.

The Panthers return to action next Saturday, as they travel to Lakewood, New Jersey to take on Georgian Court at 12 noon.