Parker Scores Six as No. 16 Albany Opens with Win
from press release
ALBANY, N.Y. - Ariana Parker scored six goals
to lead #16 UAlbany to a 19-9 win over Niagara in non-conference
women's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon at John Fallon Field.
The game was the season opener for both programs.
UAlbany scored the first five goals of the game, getting a pair
from Parker before Jess Antelmi netted back-to-back tallies. Allie
Phelan put the Great Danes up, 5-0, at 21:33 with a free position
shot that got past Niagara goalkeeper Kaitlin Sorgi. The Purple
Eagles got on the scoreboard at 15:47, as Maria Battista took an
assist from Fran Pollastro. UAlbany did not allow Niagara to build
much momentum, however, as Parker added her third goal of the game
34 seconds later with an unassisted shot.
Parker would score twice more in the half, while UAlbany also got
two goals from freshman Maureen Keggins. Mel Rorie, who made her
return to the field after missing last season with an injury, also
got into the scoring action, finding the back of the net, while
Rachel Bowles and Allie Phelan also added goals. UAlbany's Nicole
Eamer scored the final goal of the half on a free position shot at
1:15, giving the Great Danes a 14-4 lead heading into halftime.
UAlbany scored two quick goals to start the second half, with
Parker taking an assist from Keggins less than three minutes into
play, and Eamer scoring an unassisted tally at 22:08. Niagara
sandwiched another goal from Eamer with two tallies to pull within
17-6, before Keggins found Rachael Burek for her fourth assist of
the day at 14:20. The Purple Eagles scored the next three goals to
close the gap to 18-9, but Rorie slipped another shot past Sorgi
with just over a minute to play to set the final score.
Anna Berman played all but 3:21 in the goal for UAlbany, making
five saves to earn the win. Sorgi played a complete game for
Niagara (0-1) stopping seven Great Dane shots. UAlbany outshot
Niagara, 32-17, and held an 11-9 advantage in groundballs.
UAlbany (1-0) will return to action next Friday, visiting North
Carolina in non-conference action.
