ROCHESTER, N.Y. (April 13, 2008) – Sophomore attacker Alyssa Pigott tallied three goals on Sunday afternoon but it wasn't enough as the 15th-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team lost a heartbreaking 7-6 decision to Nazareth College in triple-overtime during an Empire 8 battle. With the defeat, the Ducks dropped to 9-2 and 4-2 in conference play. As for the Golden Flyers, they went to 9-2 and 7-0 in league action.
Trailing 6-5 with less than a minute to go in regulation, Pigott drew a foul inside the eight-meter circle. She was then awarded a free-position shot, which she put into the back of the cage to send the game into overtime. Following two extra sessions with no scoring, freshman attacker/midfielder Michelle Cook (Waterloo, N.Y.) registered the game-winner for Nazareth just 11 seconds into the sudden victory period.
Stevens opened the game by tallying two of the first three goals. Freshman attacker Leah Wasserman recorded a tally 32 seconds in, while freshman attacker Michelle Buonacuore scored with 24-plus minutes remaining. The Golden Flyers responded with a pair of unanswered goals to grab hold of a 3-2 advantage with 10:27 to go. Cook and junior midfielder Katie Schneeberger (Watertown, N.Y.) accounted for the scoring.
Prior to the intermission, both teams managed to add on another score as Nazareth headed into halftime with a 4-3 lead. Pigott started up the latter half with two unassisted goals to help the Ducks take back the contest at 5-4. But, the Golden Flyers answered with two of their own on free-position goals by Cook.
Wasserman earned two goals, two caused turnovers and three ground balls. Buonacuore added a goal and a draw. Freshman midfielder Christine Smith collected three ground balls, three draw controls and a caused turnover. Senior goaltender Stephanie Linder made a game-high 10 saves.
Cook finished with five goals on the day. Sophomore midfielder Alyssia Roberts (Stanley, N.Y.) amassed a goal, ground ball and a draw. Junior midfielder Maggie Mullin (Rochester, N.Y.) totaled four ground balls and a caused turnover. Senior midfielder Caity Richardson (Pittsford, N.Y.) amassed five ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers. Junior goalkeeper Maria Fusco (Chaumont, N.Y.) stopped six shots for Nazareth.
Stevens returns to action this Wednesday when it travels to Glassboro, N.J. to take on Rowan University in a non-conference match-up under the lights. The opening draw is scheduled for 6 p.m.
