ITHACA, N.Y. (March 30, 2008) – Sophomore attacker Alyssa Pigott became the sixth player in the history of the Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team to reach the 100 career point plateau on Sunday afternoon as the Ducks downed the Soaring Eagles of Elmira College, 20-8, for their sixth straight win. In the contest, she amassed four goals, three draw controls, three assists and two ground balls. The game took place at Schoellkopf Memorial Field at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
Freshman midfielder Michelle Buonacuore notched a game-high seven points on four goals and three assists. She also collected two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Sophomore midfielder Kara Borzillo totaled three tallies and two draws. Freshman midfielder Christine Smith and freshman attacker Leah Wasserman registered two goals and an assist.
Senior attacker Liz Mather dished out a game-high four assists. Senior midfielder Kaitlyn Roes caused four turnovers. She also recorded a goal and an assist for Stevens (6-0, 2-0 E8).
For Elmira, sophomore midfielder Perry Markell (Portsmouth, R.I.) led the team with five goals, eight draws and three caused turnovers. Freshman attacker Georgia Markell (Portsmouth, R.I.) earned a goal, two ground balls and a caused turnover. She also attempted four shots – three of which were on net.
Junior midfielder Erin Kendall (White River Junction, Vt.) posted a goal, two draws, two caused turnovers and three ground balls. Senior midfielder Mary-Kate Geratowski (Wilder, Vt.) had four ground balls and two draws.
Knotted up at 1-1 with just under 26 minutes remaining in the first half, the Ducks ran off seven unanswered goals to take a 8-1 lead with 11:19 to go. Pigott notched a hat trick in that time, while Buonacuore, Wasserman, Borzillo and sophomore attacker Katie Lalli contributed a goal each.
After a goal by junior attacker Sarah Young (Hampton, N.J.) cut the Soaring Eagles' deficit to six, Stevens tallied two more even-strength goals to grab hold of a 10-2 advantage. Pigott and Wasserman accounted for the scoring. The visitors eventually went into the locker room ahead by a 12-4 count.
The Ducks started up the second half with two quick goals off the sticks of Smith and Borzillo to open up a 10-goal lead. After that, Elmira registered four of the next five goals to get within seven at 15-8. Perry Markell and Georgia Markell combined to total three scores. Stevens soon answered with five straight goals to put the contest away for good. Lalli played a key role as she earned a vital goal and assist in the run.
Senior goaltender Stephanie Linder made a game-high 10 saves for the Ducks. Junior keeper Jalene McCulloch stopped eight shots for the Soaring Eagles (2-3, 0-2 E8).
Stevens held a 31-27 edge in shots and a 28-23 margin in ground balls. Both teams each won 15 draw controls. The Ducks converted 72.0 percent (18-of-25) of their clear attempts, while the Soaring Eagles were 19-of-23 (82.6 percent) on clears.
Stevens returns to action tomorrow when it takes on Empire 8 rival Ithaca College at Schoellkopf Field. The opening draw is slated for noon.
