April 8, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle lacrosse team exploded for 12 first half goals and held off Lafayette down the stretch en route to an 18-11 win on Tuesday evening. The Explorers, whose most recent victory came against the Leopards of March 22nd of last season, improved to 1-11 on the year.
La Salle dominated the first half, racking up a season-high 12 goals in the opening stanza. Nicole McCurdy got the Explorers on the board four minutes into the game on a free position shot. Consecutive goals by Elizabeth Iacullo made the score 3-0 in favor of the home team with 21:18 left on the clock.
After Lafayette scored to make it a 3-1 game, back-to-back goals from Emily Bonczek put the Explorers up by a 5-1 mark. Lafayette's Kendall Davis netted the first of her three goals on the day to bring the Leopards to within three, but scores from Kelly Heiss, Erika Matthews and Stefany McKee gave La Salle an 8-2 lead with 5:32 to play in the half.
The Leopards would tack on another score, but the Explorers tallied four goals in the final 4:16 to take a 12-3 lead into the break. McCurdy fired a shot past Lafayette goalkeeper Emily Bjork as time expired to put an exclamation point on the first half.
The second half started much like the first half ended, as Heiss and Iacullo scored on free position shots in the first two minutes to put La Salle up 14-3, its largest lead of the game.
Lafayette attempted to claw its way back into the game, scoring four straight to cut the deficit to seven, but the Explorers were not to be denied today.
Bonczek added a pair of goals down the stretch, while Heiss and McKee notched goals to ice the game for the Explorers. Bonczek and McKee tied for game-high honors with four goals apiece, while Heiss, Iacullo and McCurdy each had three.
La Salle held the edge in ground balls 32-20. Iacullo and McCurdy each scooped up five, while Heiss and Allie Venuti had four. Heiss led the Explorers with three caused turnovers.
For the game, La Salle was 9-12 on free position shots.
Ellen Axelsen picked up the win in goal, recording five saves on the day. Mara Schnellenbach closed out the final 22:16 between the pipes, recording four saves.
Kristin Ruminski, Emily Archibald and Kendall Davis each had three goals for Lafayette (0-14). Bjork played all 60 minutes and recorded 12 saves.
The Explorers look to make it two in a row when they face off against City 6 rival Villanova on Thursday evening.
