Feb. 12, 2010
Box Score
Annapolis, MD— La Salle Women’s Lacrosse opened its season with a 12-11 defeat to the U.S. Naval Academy Friday evening at Rip Miller Field.
“We were able to keep fighting back, we played physical and it was a hard fought game,” Head Coach Candace Taglianetti said about her team’s first performance of the new season.
The Explorers showed great execution in the early minutes to begin their 2010 campaign as they scored two goals 1:26 apart, courtesy of senior Stefany McKee and freshman Lauren McDermott. La Salle led 3-1 before seven minutes had even gone by, as senior Jill Davis added an unassisted tally.
Navy would not let the Explorers savor their lead for long. Senior Erin Rawlick scored her second goal of the game, just eight seconds after Davis gave La Salle a two-goal lead.
Rawlick’s goal was the beginning of a four-goal scoring spree that Navy would go on over the next 18 minutes. In that time juniors Katrina Nietsch, Caitlin Mandrin Hill and freshman Beth Young scored to help Navy jump out to a 6-3 advantage.
La Salle narrowed the gap back to a one-goal Navy lead after sophomore Taylor Ruland scored back-to-back goals before Rawlick scored her second goal of the game right before the conclusion of the first half.
Following halftime, Davis scored an unassisted goal 1:27 into the second half to bring the Explorers back to within a goal, once again.
Just under 10 minutes later, McKee deadlocked the contest at seven a piece, after receiving a pass from freshman Melanie Sarcinello.
Navy’s Rawlick, who finished with five goals on the night, made sure La Salle would never regain its lead as she went on to score twice in the ensuing 1:35 following McKee’s game-tying goal.
The Explorers continued to make it interesting. La Sale responded with back-to-back goals after Navy had taken a three-goal advantage, which had it up by a score of 10-7.
Sophomore Rachel Baker scored on a free position shot before Sarcinello scored an unassisted goal 48 seconds later to complete her four-point night (1 G, 3 A).
Down 10-9, Navy sophomore Danielle Vivonetto returned the favor on La Salle by scoring two straight times to put the home team back up by its largest lead of three goals.
McKee scored her third goal of the night on five shots before there was a scoring-drought that lasted for more than six minutes.
Unfortunately it became a matter of too little, too late for La Salle. With the Explorers down 12-10 with 13 seconds left on the game clock, sophomore Nora McGurkin added one last tally for La Salle.
The Explorers now have 10 days off to prepare for their next game, which is their home opener. La Salle will host the Florida Gators, who are in their inaugural season with a lacrosse program, on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at McCarthy Stadium. Face-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
