Kirby's Career Night Leads Mount Past Flash
from press release
EMMITSBURG, Md. - Emily Kirby (Reisterstown,
Md./Franklin) posted a career-high five goals and two assists to
lift Mount St. Mary's past Saint Francis (Pa.) 14-8 in Northeast
Conference (NEC) women's lacrosse action on Friday night.
Kirby helped the Mount (3-5, 1-1 NEC) jump out to a 7-2 advantage
with three goals and two assists in the first 23 minutes of the
contest. The senior then helped the Mountaineers pull away in the
second half with two tallies to give Mount St. Mary's its first
league win.
"Obviously our loss to Monmouth was not the way we wanted to start
conference, but we bounced back after a good week of practice and
it's a great sign for us moving forward," said head coach Sonia
LaMonica.
Ashley Johnson (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West) added three markers and
two assists while Jackie Kearney (Baltimore, Md./Seton Keough)
registered two goals and two assists in the winning effort.
Kate Simmons paced the Red Flash (6-5, 2-1 NEC) with four goals and
Catherine Helming chipped in two goals in the loss.
After Saint Francis (Pa.) grabbed a 1-0 lead, Kirby fueled a 7-1
run to hand Mount St. Mary's the lead. The Red Flash then made a
late rally attempt in the first half before the Mount pulled away
in the final stanza to earn its eighth win against the Loretto
program.
Simmons gave Saint Francis (Pa.) a 1-0 edge with a goal off a
Danielle Conwell assist 49 seconds into the contest.
Lucy Pompa (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) tied the game on a
free-position goal at 4:11 before Kirby had a hand in the
Mountaineers' next four tallies. The senior gave Mount St. Mary's
the lead off a feed from Johnson at 9:46 before Meaghan Conlon
(Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) assisted Kirby's second goal of the night
23 seconds later for a 3-1 margin. After Kirby set up Jordan
Certeza (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Lutheran) at 11:47, Kearney feed
Kirby the ball to complete the hat trick at 12:41 and give Mount
St. Mary's a four-goal advantage.
"Emily had such a great game," said LaMonica. "She was a really a
great finisher for us today and making things happen in our
offensive end."
Simmons halted the Mount's 5-0 run with her second marker of the
night off a Brittany Kovacs assist at 21:59, but Kirby helped the
Mountaineers answer right back when she found Allie Fife
(Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton) at 22:43.
The Red Flash closed the first half by scoring the final four goals
of the stanza to cut the margin to 7-6 at halftime. Simmons started
the run unassisted at 25:10 before Saint Francis (Pa.) rattled off
three goals in the final 87 seconds. Helming found the twine
unassisted at 28:33 before Pariss Townsend-Griffin scored her first
goal of the year with 27 ticks on the clock. Helming converted an
8-meter chance with eight second left to make it a one-goal match
at the break.
Mount St. Mary's opened the second half by scoring the first four
goals of the stanza. Johnson started the run with a tally off a
Conlon assist at 4:17 before Kearney notched a free-position goal
at 29:50. Kearney then set up Johnson 58 seconds later before
Certeza feed Kearney at 46:02 for an 11-6 lead.
"Jackie did a good job on the defensive and offensive end for us
today," said LaMonica. "She hasn't been an offensive threat in past
seasons and that is something that I asked her to do. She is
stepping up and doing it this year which is really good to
see."
Simmons momentarily stopped the Mountaineers' senior offensive
attack with her fourth goal of the night unassisted at the
48-minute mark, but Kirby answered right back for Mount St. Mary's
with a free-position goal 33 seconds later and found the twine off
a feed from Johnson at 51:57 for a 13-7 lead.
Stephanie Toomey had an 8-meter tally at the 53-minute mark, but
Johnson sealed the win in the programs first-ever night game with a
goal at 57:59 to give the Mountaineers a 14-8 victory.
"A night game always brings the fun atmosphere and that is really
special to have that here with the new facility and the lights,"
said LaMonica.
Brigid McTavish (Mount Airy, Md./South Carroll) made 10 saves for
the Mount while Danielle Pokusa turned away 10 shots for Saint
Francis (Pa.).
Sydney Sykes (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) had three ground balls
and three caused turnovers to pace the defense while Aly Jost
(Abington, Md./Bel Air) had three ground balls and two caused
turnovers. Kearney had four ground balls, two draw controls and two
caused turnovers and Pompa registered three ground balls, two draw
controls and a caused turnover. Alexis Salerno (South Setauket,
N.Y./South Side) added four ground balls, a draw control and two
caused turnovers in the win.
