Colgate Hands Navy First Loss, 19-10 :: Mids outscored 12-4 in the second half.

March 22, 2008

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- The Colgate women's lacrosse team outscored Navy, 12-4, in the second half to hand the Mids their first loss as an NCAA Division I member, 19-10, on Saturday afternoon. The Mids, which opened the season with six straight wins, fall to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in Patriot League play, while Colgate improves to 4-6 and 2-0.

The two teams alternated goals in the first eight minutes as Sarah Bushong, Meg Decker and Erin Rawlick all scored goals to help Navy to a 3-3 tie moments into the contest. However, Colgate scored the game's next four goals over a 10-minute span to grab a 7-3 lead with 11:44 to play.

Navy would score the game's next three goals, including two by Decker and one by Katrina Nietsch, both freshmen, to cut the halftime lead to 7-6.

The Raiders would blow the game open in the first seven-plus minutes of the second half, tallying the first five goals of the half for a 12-6 cushion. Navy would cut the lead to 12-9 on three straight goals, the last coming by leading scorer Erin Rawlick with 15:34 to play.

But Colgate would end the game scoring seven of the last eight goals of the contest, including three in the last 2:09 for a 19-10 decision.

The loss snaps Navy's six-game win streak, the second-longest streak in the country. It was the first road game of the season for the team.

Decker and Rawlick each scored three goals for the Midshipmen, the sixth hat trick in seven games for both players. The duo have scored a combined 50 goals (Rawlick - 27, Decker - 23) so far this year.

Bushong, Nietsch, Brittany Amerau and Amanda Towey each scored one goal. Mary Ruttum dished out Navy's lone assist. The Mids have just two assists on 22 goals in Patriot League play so far this year.

Natalie Blandon stopped a career-high 10 saves in the cage.

Colgate outshot the Mids, 38-27, becoming the first team to outshoot the Mids this year. The Raiders also won 19-of-31 draw controls and forced the Mids into 20 turnovers.

Navy will host Canisius in a non-conference battle on Tuesday, March 25, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, beginning at 4:00 pm. The Mids sport a 6-0 record at home this year. Admission is free.

# GO NAVY #