Seven second half goals not enough
9/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Washington, DC – Lehigh scored 7 times in the second half, but could not overcome the deficit created in the first 30 minutes of play, as American ended the Mountain Hawks’ season with a 15-8 loss at Reeves Field on Saturday. Lehigh wraps up the 2002 campaign with a 4-11 overall record, and a 1-5 mark in Patriot League play. American advances to the league’s post-season tournament with a 9-5 record (5-1 in the league).
The Mountain Hawks were led offensively by senior Kristin Strohm, who scored twice in her final contest for the Brown & White. Strohm, one of four seniors on the squad, finishes the season with a team-best 26 goals and 33 points.
Lehigh once again found itself trying to dig out of an early hole, as the Eagles raced out to an 8-1 lead at the half. American fired off 37 shots on the afternoon, with Lehigh’s goalkeeping tandem of Vanessa Abbott and Val Jackson notching a combined 20 saves. Jackson, a senior, wraps up the season with a save percentage of .583 after recording three saves on Saturday.
In the second half, Lehigh’s defense, anchored by seniors Mary Kurry and Kristen McGrath, held the American offense at bay as Lehigh’s attack began to mount the comeback. The Mountain Hawks scored seven times in the second stanza, trimming the American lead with still time remaining on the clock. However, a couple of late Eagle scores put the contest out of reach, as AU went on to the victory.
"We played with a lot more heart and determination in the second half," said Lehigh head coach Jackie Keeley. "Even when we were down, we continued to hustle, and we took a lot of quality shots. [American is] a really good team, with a couple of players that are tough to stop."
With only four seniors on its team, Lehigh has looked to its youngsters in all facets of the game. On Saturday, freshman Barrie Cominsky notched a goal and an assist. Freshmen Kellan Van Hoesen and Sarah Starsoneck, sophomore Ella Studdiford, and the team’s lone junior – Rosie Sherry – all scored goals. Sophomore Emily Studdiford registered two assists on the afternoon, giving her 11 on the season. Her two helpers on Saturday helped push her past her sister Ella for the team lead in assists. Ella Studdiford finishes the season with ten.
Score
Team | 1st | 2nd | Total |
Lehigh | 1 | 7 | 8 |
American | 8 | 7 | 15 |
Shots – Lehigh 31, American 37
Saves – Lehigh (Vanessa Abbott 17, Val Jackson 3); American 10
Lehigh Goals – Kristin Strohm (2), Sarah Starsoneck, Barrie Cominsky, Ella Studdiford, Rosie Sherry, Meredith Carso, Kellan Van Hoesen
Lehigh Assists – Emily Studdiford (2), Barrie Cominsky
For more information, contact Jeff Tourial, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
