April 22, 2009

Box Score

Oakdale, N.Y. - Freshman Erica Devito notched the game-winner with 11:36 left to play as the #1 Adelphi University women's lacrosse team surged past Dowling College, 14-10, in a second half rally. The Panthers improve to 13-0 and 1-0 in the ECC, while the Golden Lions fall to 8-4 and 2-2 in the league.

The Panthers found themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing 2-0 to start the game. Sophomore Michelle Ceraso got Adelphi on board in the 5th minute on a free position goal. Freshman Alison Staudt knotted the score at 2-2 at 21:40. The Golden Lions rattled off three unanswered goals over the next ten minutes to lead 5-2. Junior Holly Burke found the back of the net on a one of four assists from senior Rachel Ray in the 27th minute. Sophomore Kaitlyn Carter followed with an unassisted goal to close the gap, 5-4, with 2:21 remaining in the half. The Golden Lions managed two more goals in the final 1:39 with Kelly Cefalu collecting her third goal of the half on an asisst by Cassandra Cronin who then followed with her own unassisted shot. Adelphi trailed, 7-4, at intermission.

Dowling continued its rally in the second half as Brianna Falese tallied her third goal of the game in the 36th minute. Less than a minute later freshman Marissa Mills snapped the 3-0 rally. Cronin managed one more goal, but then the Panthers picked up steam, rattling off nine unanswered goals. Mills, who finished with three goals, notched the game-tying goal after securing the draw control with 18:48 left to play, 9-9. Sophomore Kaitlyn Carter added the insurance goal in the 51st minute. Junior Allison Tumulty registered back-to-back goals before Carter closed out the rally with her fourth goal of the night with 2:20 on the clock. The Golden Lions snuck in one final goal just before the buzzer as the Panthers prevailed, 14-10.

"In the first half we didn't play like the #1 ranked team," Head Coach Joe Spallina stated. "We made some adjustments at half-time and played the second half more they way we are accustomed to."

Both teams had 14 shots each in the first half. In the second, the Panthers outshot the Golden Lions, 30-13. Each team picked up 13 draw controls, with the Panthers holding a 29-21 ground ball advantage as well as causing 11 turnovers.

Junior Caitlin Fitzpatrick had nine saves in the win, while Rachel Goldstein made 19 stops for Dowling.

"[Goldstein] was outstanding," Spallina said. "We barraged her with shots and were continuously turned away."

Next up, Adelphi travels to Rockville Centre to face Molloy College on Saturday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m. Then, they will host St. Thomas Aquinas at 12:00 noon in its regular season home finale on Sunday, April 26. In addition to Senior Day, the Panthers will also host a "Think Pink event and encourage all fans to wear pink.