No. 3 Lock Haven Edges No. 4 Limestone
from press release
GAFFNEY, S.C. — The No. 4-ranked Limestone College
women's lacrosse team was edged by No. 3 Lock Haven 11-10 on Sunday
afternoon at Saints Field. Limestone's record falls to 6-1 overall
as the Eagles improve to 2-0.
Limestone got off to a strong start as the Saints won the first
four draw controls of the match, with Katie Ilott (Brooklin,
Ontario, Canada) getting credit for three of those wins. As a
result of these possessions, the Saints jumped out to a three-goal
lead in the first seven minutes. Lock Haven's Elyse Fisher
(Jackson, N.J.) finally put her team on the board at the 20:03
mark, and the Eagles went on to even the score 3-3 within four
minutes. Goals from Ilott and Renee Albro (Purcellville, Va.) gave
Limestone a two-goal advantage, but goals from the visitors' Leigh
Titus (Kings Park, N.Y.) and Gwen Buss (Mercersburg, Pa.) tied the
score 5-5 heading into halftime.
Lock Haven took a brief 6-5 lead after another goal from Buss in
the first minute of the second half. Limestone has three
consecutive goals, including two from Britt Howard (Oswego, N.Y.),
to put the Saints up 8-6. Kate Smyth (Levittown, Pa.) put Lock
Haven within one with her goal at 14:16, but Howard scored her
third free-position shot of the day to give the Saints another
two-goal margin (9-7).
Goals from Titus and Buss equalized the score yet again, but Howard
capitalized on another free-position attempt to give Limestone the
10-9 lead with three minutes left to play. Kayleigh Johnson
(Fairport, N.Y.) scored to tie things up 10-10, and Smyth's goal
with only 41 seconds left to play in regulation gave LHU the 11-10
lead. The Eagle's Buss won the final draw control of the game, and
though Limestone did gain possession with only seconds left on the
clock, the Saints didn't have enough time to clear the ball and
take a shot before time winded down.
Howard led Limestone with four goals, and all of her points came
from free-position attempts. Ilott recorded a hat trick while Albro
added two goals. Raquel Prager (Seaford, N.Y.) also chipped in a
goal. Albro and Kelly Oterson (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) had
assists.
The Saints' Brigid Milchling (Cockeysville, Md.) had eight saves in
goal for the Saints, and denied the Eagles all four of their
free-position attempts. Ilott led the team with five draw controls
and two caused turnovers. Oterson, Skylar Marcoux (Woodbine, Md.),
and Melissa Nakasjui (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) had three ground balls
apiece.
Buss had a hat trick for the Eagles as Smyth and Fisher scored two
goals apiece. Johnson and Emily Cilia (Kings Park, N.Y.) each
recorded a goal. Allison Berger (Oreland, Pa.) had a game-high
three assists.
Lock Haven goalkeeper Kira Nuttall (Baltimore, Md.) had 11 saves
during the contest. Buss led the Eagles with four draw controls and
four ground balls. Katie Zichelli (South Orange, N.J.), Fisher, and
Titus had two caused turnovers apiece. Titus also posted three
ground balls.
The Eagles edged the Saints on shots (26-23) and draw controls
(12-11). Both teams had 17 ground balls. Lock Haven was 12-16 on
clears as Limestone was 10-17.
The Saints host Shepherd University on March 17 at 4 p.m. at Saints
Field. Lock Haven hosts Gannon on March 17 at 4 p.m. at Charlotte
E. Smith Field in Lock Haven, Pa.
