April 19, 2008

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. -- The Navy women's lacrosse team outscored Lafayette, 10-4, in the second half to cruise to a 21-13 decision in the final Patriot League regular-season game of the year on Saturday afternoon. The win improves Navy's record to 12-3 overall, matching the 1996 North Carolina team for the most wins by a first-year program in NCAA history. It was also Navy's first road win of the season.

"Lafayette played us tough in their final game, but we played very well, especially in the second half," said Navy head coach Cindy Timchal. "We made some adjustments at halftime and they responded. It feels great to get that first road win and hopefully we can carry that momentum this week."

Lafayette took a 2-1 lead three minutes into the contest, but the Mids responded by scoring the next four goals, including two by sophomore Erin Rawlick, for a 5-2 advantage with 22:36 to play in the first half. Navy would stretch the lead to 10-5 with 10:35 to play on a Mary Ruttum tally.

The Leopards would answer by scoring four of the last five goals of the first half, then would close to within one at 11-10 moments into the second half on a Maria Drewing tally with 27:28 to play in the contest.

Navy, however, scored four goals in a row to push the margin back to 15-10, highlighted by a pair of Meg Decker scores. Lafayette scored twice in a row to trim the margin to 15-12, but Rawlick and Decker scored twice in a 6-0 Navy run to put the game out of reach, as the Mids cruised in for a 21-13 triumph.

With the victory, coupled with American's win over Colgate and Lehigh's overtime victory over Bucknell, the Mids will be the fourth seed in next weekend's Patriot League Tournament and will play the top seed, American, in Washington, D.C., at a time to be determined. The other semifinal will pit second-seeded Colgate against third-seeded Lehigh.

"That is good news that we are at American. It's a local game, so hopefully we can get a good crowd to follow us over there on Friday," said Timchal. "Obviously, we'll prepare a little bit differently in that in a tournament setting, you know everything about the other team. We have played all these teams already. It should be a great tournament and we are excited to be part of it."

Rawlick and Ruttum led the Mids with six points each. Rawlick scored five goals with an assist, while Ruttum tallied four goals and two assists. Decker and Amanda Towey scored five points each, with Decker tallying four goals with an assist and Towey contributing three goals and two assists. Freshman Katrina Nietsch scored four points (3 g, 1 a).

Natalie Blandon stopped 11 shots in goal, including nine in the crucial second half.

Lafayette outshot the Mids, 35-31, and picked up 27 ground balls to Navy's 22. Navy won 20 draw controls to Lafayette's 17. The Leopards were also just 4-of-13 on free-position shots.

Navy will conclude the regular season with a Tuesday night contest at Villanova, beginning at 6:00 pm. The Patriot League Tournament will get underway on Friday in Washington, D.C., with the semifinal winners meeting Sunday for the Tournament title.

# GO NAVY #