Alyssa Pigott's three goals spearheaded a solid effort by Stevens against Rowan. |
HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 18, 2007) – Freshman midfielder Alyssa Pigott (Jobstown, N.J.) scored a game-high three goals and added three draw controls as the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s lacrosse team rallied from a 4-3 halftime deficit to post a thrilling 9-8 victory over 2006 NCAA Tournament participant Rowan University on Wednesday evening at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. The Ducks, who have won three straight games, improved to 8-6 on the year with the victory.
Freshman midfielder Kara Borzillo (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and Pigott staked Stevens to a 2-0 lead in the opening three minutes of the game with a pair of goals just 15 seconds apart. The Profs (5-9), who have lost three games in a row, responded with four straight goals – including two by junior attack Caitlin Meseroll (Oakhurst, N.J.) – to grab a 4-2 advantage with 17:20 left in the first half.
Stevens, which suffered a 14-8 loss to Rowan last year, climbed to within 4-3 as freshman attack Katie Lalli (Princeton Junction, N.J.) scored with just under 13 minutes remaining in the period. The Ducks opened the second half by scoring the first five goals of the period. Junior attack/midfielder Kaitlin Roes (Stillwater, N.J.) knotted the score with 25:42 left on the clock. Junior attack Liz Mather (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) gave Stevens a 5-4 edge just over five minutes later.
Consecutive goals by sophomore attack Dana Perriello (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Lalli and Pigott extended the margin to 8-4 as the Ducks seemingly took control. Rowan would not go away though. Trailing 9-5 with less than three minutes to go, the Profs scored three times in the span of 1:26 to climb to within a goal. Senior defender Shana Smeriglio’s (Ocean, N.J.) goal with 1:24 left in regulation brought Rowan to within 9-8.
Stevens was able to hold off the Profs in the final minute thanks to a key defensive play by Roes. With 46 seconds remaining, Roes intercepted a pass from Meseroll as the Ducks regained possession and ran out the clock.
Lalli finished with two goals. Mather totaled a goal and two assists. Junior defender Beth Rychcik (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) had five ground balls and two caused turnovers. Senior defender Jessica Foldhazy (Bayville, N.J.) contributed four ground balls and one caused turnover. Junior goalkeeper Stephanie Linder (Eatontown, N.J.) went the distance in net and made eight saves for the Ducks.
Sophomore midfielder Kelly Angstadt (Sewell, N.J.), Meseroll and Smeriglio had two goals apiece for Rowan. Smeriglio added five ground balls and three draw controls. Angstadt chipped in with three ground balls and two draw controls. Sophomore goalkeeper Alicia Mannino (Richboro, Pa.) allowed eight goals and made seven stops for the Profs.
For the game, Stevens owned the advantage in shots (22-17) and ground balls (21-17). The Ducks were 17-for-21 (81.0 percent) in clearing attempts. Rowan converted on 15 of 20 (75.0 percent) of its clears. Stevens was 2-for-5 in free-position shots. The Profs finished 1-for-4 on the evening.
Coming up on Saturday, the Ducks will host Skyline Conference rival Farmingdale State College at 11 a.m. That game will be carried live at www.duckcast.com.
