Lehigh University Athletics
Lafayette proves too much for Mountain Hawks
9/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Bethlehem, PA – Five different Mountain Hawks dented the scoreboard, but it wasn’t enough as Lafayette downed Lehigh by a 19-5 score in Lehigh’s final home contest of the season, played under the lights at the Ulrich Sports Complex on Tuesday night. The Senior Night setback drops Lehigh’s record to 4-10 overall and 1-4 in the league, while Lafayette improves to 10-5 overall and a perfect 5-0 in league play.
Lafayette started the scoring early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead ten minutes into the contest, thanks to scores from Erin Gallagher and Heather McClelland. Lehigh struck back, however, as senior Kristin Strohm found the back of the net to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. The Leopards continued to control the draw, and came away with a number of key ground balls as they mounted the pressure on the Lehigh defense. Lafayette scored six straight goals to build an 8-1 lead with 2:04 left in the half, before freshman Sarah Starsoneck scored on an eight meter shot with just 0:21 remaining before intermission to make the score 8-2 at the half. Lafayette out-shot Lehigh by a 20-9 margin in the first 30 minutes, and came away with 27 ground balls to Lehigh’s 14.
The second half proved to be more of the same, as the Leopards notched 11 goals in the second stanza to cruise to the 14-goal win. The 19 goals surrendered by Lehigh marked the highest total scored by a Mountain Hawks opponent this season. The Lafayette offense was powered by senior Stephanie Tinney, who led all scorers with five goals and an assist. Jennifer Stone and Gallagher added three scores each, while McClelland scored twice.
The Mountain Hawks picked up second half scores from freshmen Barrie Cominsky and Jen Fleming, and from sophomore Emily Studdiford, who scored off a pass from her sister Ella.
Leela Strong played the first 54 minutes in goal for Lafayette, allowing four goals and recording nine saves. Kate Devlin played the final six minutes, picking up three saves while allowing the Studdiford goal. For Lehigh, sophomore Vanessa Abbott began the night in net, stopping 11 Leopard shots. Senior Val Jackson came into the game in the second half, stopping two shots without surrendering a score in her final home contest. On the night, Lehigh was out-shot 36-17, while Lafayette controlled 38 ground balls to Lehigh’s 19.
Lehigh will wrap up its season on Saturday, when the Mountain Hawks visit Patriot League newcomer American University.
Score
Team | 1st | 2nd | Total |
Lafayette | 8 | 11 | 19 |
Lehigh | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Shots – Lafayette 36, Lehigh 17
Saves – Lafayette 9 (Leela Strong 6, Kate Devlin 3); Lehigh (Vanessa Abbott 11, Val Jackson 2)
Lehigh Goals – Kristin Strohm, Sarah Starsoneck, Barrie Cominsky, Jen Fleming, Emily Studdiford
Lehigh Assists – Ella Studdiford
Lafayette Goals – Stephanie Tinney (5), Falon Cunningham (3), Jennifer Stone (3), Erin Gallagher (3), Heather McClelland (2), Katie Curtin, Kim Maron, Jill Marvin
Lafayette Assists – Heather McClelland (4), Jennifer Stone (2), Erin Gallagher (2), Stephanie Tinney, Falon Cunningham, Andrea MacCullough
For more information, contact Jeff Tourial, Lehigh Sports Media Relations.
