No. 5 West Chester Dispatches Rollins, 14-11
from press release
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Jackie Hoover scored
five goals and Nicole Haines added three more as fifth-ranked West
Chester University hung on for a 14-11 non-league women’s
lacrosse victory over Rollins College at overcast and cold Vonnie
Gros Field Sunday afternoon.
West Chester (7-0) remained perfect on the season while Rollins
(5-4) saw its modest two-game winning streak come to a close.
Rollins outscored West Chester, 10-6, in the second half as head
coach Dennis Short changed up game plans to try to erase an 8-1
deficit at the half. The Tars attacked the Rams’ cage much
more aggressively, abandoning its ball-control, patient-style of
offense from the first half. However, the final score’s
difference of three goals was as close as Rollins would get all
afternoon.
West Chester’s ability to keep the ball away from Rollins for
much of the final seven minutes of play, despite the Tars pulling
their goalkeeper to pressure the ball defensively, was crucial in
the end. The Rams’ Katy Crouse picked up three critical draw
controls after Rollin’s final three goals to win possessions
for West Chester and enable them to run down the clock. Crouse
finished the day with six draw controls in all and added four
ground balls and three caused turnovers.
The Golden Rams capitalized on five of seven free position attempts
in the contest, going 3-for-4 in the first half as the hosts built
a 6-0 lead over the game’s first 19 minutes of play that
proved to be all the cushion West Chester needed.
Claire Grimwood and Nicole Pyle each contributed two goals to the
Golden Rams’ scoring. Theresa Giunta and Erin Oczkowski
potted West Chester’s other two markers.
MacKenzie O’Keefe (4-0) made eight saves in the cage for West
Chester. Alyssa Emens (5-4) made six saves for Rollins.
Marissa Giannerini led Rollins with four goals. Erica Pagliarulo
scored twice, and Liz Connelly netted one goal and three assists.
Sarah Ann Showell scored two goals in the game’s final nine
minutes. Sophie Townsend and Katy Tyszko each scored once.
