March 23, 2011

Box Score

Syracuse, NY - The Adelphi University women's lacrosse team traveled to Syracuse, New York on Wednesday, March 23, opening their Northeast-10 schedule against #4 LeMoyne College. The Panthers battled the weather and the Dolphins, using a 3-0 run late to break a seven all tie and secure a, 11-9 victory. With the win Adelphi remains unbeaten at 3-0, while handing LeMoyne it's first Division II loss, dropping the Dolphins to 4-1 and 1-1 in conference play.

"The field was covered in three inches of snow, which negated our speed and turned the game into a slugfest, while we prefer a track meet," Head Coach Joe Spallina said when asked about the game and conditions. "But, our girls were resilient and battled through treacherous conditions and over came 16 free position shots from LeMoyne to our four, which was a big part of the game."

The Dolphins took advantage of a slow Adelphi start, building a 3-0 lead in the first seven and half minutes of action. However, an Elizabeth Fey goal, off of a Claire Petersen assist, sparked the Panther offense to life, as Adelphi unleashed a 5-0 run that spanned 12 minutes. During the run Fey and Demmianne Cook had two goals apiece, while Petersen notched her only goal of the game.

Adelphi and LeMoyne would trade goals in the final 2:04, with Marissa Mills tally coming at the 1:52 mark, giving the Panthers a 6-4 cushion at the break. LeMoyne scored first again in the second frame, pulling to within one, 6-5 just 2:42 into the action.

From there the contest would slow to a crawl, as only three goals were scored in the next 17 minutes, two by the host Dolphins, who knotted the game at seven with 10:03 on the clock. However, Fey would not be denied, scoring back-to-back goals and getting help from Kaitlyn Carter, who scored the last of the Panthers three straight goals, to give Adelphi a 10-7 edge with 4:48 remaining.

LeMoyne's Brittany Brigandi found the back of the net on two free position shots, the second coming with just one minute left on the clock to make things interesting and pull the Dolphins within one, 10-9. But, Adelphi answered back one more time, as Carter shut the door on LeMoyne, beating Kelly Fucillo with 16 ticks left on the clock to give the Panthers an 11-9 win.

Both Fey and Petersen posted five points, Fey on four goals and an assist and Petersen courtesy of four helpers and a goal. Carter had three points (2G, 1A), while Mills (1G, 1A), Cook (2G) and Erica Devito (1G, 1A) had two points each.

Frankie Caridi made 11 stops in net for Adelphi, while Kelly Fucillo made eight saves for LeMoyne. The Dolphins had more shots, 28-25, ground balls, 17-15 and free position opportunities in the loss, 16-4.

Adelphi returns to action on Saturday, March 26 when they play host to Saint Anselm at noon on Motamed Field.