No. 8 Union Narrowly Escapes Buffalo State
from press release
SCHENECTADY, NY -- Kristin Joyce and Chloe Schmitz scored three
goals each and Union held off a late Buffalo State rally for a 10-9
women's lacrosse season opening win at Frank Bailey Field Friday
afternoon. The contest was also the opener for the Bengals. Chelsea
Charette and Melissa Hine each had a pair of assists with a goal
for the Dutchwomen, while Cat Ruggiero made nine saves in the Union
net.
Joyce had nine shots to lead Union, with eight on net, while
Schmitz, a freshman in her first career game for Union, had six
shots and five ground balls. Abby Stohler and Jill LaForest scored
the other Dutchwomen tallies, while Stohler and Joyce added
assists.
Buffalo State was led by freshman attack Karen Shaddock (Corning,
NY), who had four goals with an assist and nine shots on net. Katie
Henderson (Lakeview, NY) scored three goals and Kendyl Clarkson
(Painted Post, NY) had two goals with an assist for the Bengals.
Ashley O'Brien (Honeoye Falls, NY) made 13 saves, incuding 10 in
the first half.
Union, ranked in the top 10 in two national polls, outshot Buffalo
State, 36-18, including a 28-8 advantage in the first half as Union
took an 8-3 lead into the half. The Dutchwomen had 33 ground balls
to the Bengals' 21, and won 15 of the 21 draw controls for the
day.
The Dutchwomen led 4-3 after Shaddock scored for the Bengals with
9:05 left in the first half. But Union scored four goals in a span
of 4:43, with Hine's free position goal with 2:15 left capping the
run before halftime. Schmitz notched her third of the day 2:10 into
the second half but Henderson made it 9-4 at 23:23. With 22:58
remaining, Joyce scored what proved to be the final Union goal,
making it 10-4. The Bengals scored five straight, including two
each by Shaddock and Clarkson, and Clarkson's second came with 6:44
remaining for the 10-9 deficit. The Bengals had the ball to the
right of the Union net but with 1:29 left, Ally Boertzel forced a
turnover.
Union returns to action March 23 at #2 Franklin & Marshall.
