HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 10, 2009) – The No. 14 Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team rolled to its second consecutive ECAC Metro/South Tournament championship on Sunday afternoon with a 21-12 win over Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham. Senior captain Cassidy Callahan was named the game's Most Valuable Player and sophomore Leah Wasserman paced the Stevens attack, recording seven points on five goals and two assists. The win marks the end of the 2009 season as the Ducks finish with an overall record of 16-2.
Sophomore Christine Smith put the Ducks on top 12 seconds into the game, taking the opening draw and netting the contest's first shot. Junior Alyssa Pigott (2), sophomore Karen Federico, and junior Fionuala Quinn all tallied goals over the next 10-plus minutes to put Stevens up 5-0 with 19:22 to go in the first.
FDU finally got on the board 5:06 later as senior Lauren Gambardello (Pennsauken, N.J.) scored the Devils' first goal. That tally ignited a nice 4-0 run to make it the score 5-4 with 11:04 to go. The Ducks were able to hold their ground and fight back with four of the final six goals in the first half to take a 9-6 lead into the locker room. Sophomore Pamela Loria, Federico (2), and Wasserman found net for Stevens.
Stevens came out strong in the second half, scoring three-straight times in just 1:23 take its largest lead of the game (12-6). Sophomore Lindsey Parent (Cinnaminson, N.J.) stopped the bleeding for the Devils and they were able to cut the lead to four with 25:03 to play, but once again, the Ducks answered right back.
This time it was four consecutive scores in a span 6:23 to put the game away. Smith started and ended the run as Wasserman and Loria also registered goals.
Stevens' largest lead of the game was 10 after Pigott tallied with 10:00 remaining to make the score 21-11.
The Ducks, who defeated then-No. 16 Dickinson College for last year's ECAC Metro/South Championship, dominated the stat sheet. Stevens finished with a 49-26 advantage in shots and a 25-17 edge in ground balls. The Ducks won 20-of-35 draw controls and went 3-for-7 on free-position shots.
Senior goalkeeper Grace Sack made 12 saves to earn the win in goal. Her opposite, senior Christine Dunn (Pennsauken, N.J.), made 11 saves in the loss.
Pigott finished her superb season with four goals and two assists. She totaled 97 points in 18 games and is currently second all-time in points at Stevens. Federico and Smith each tallied three times and recorded one assist. Smith also had five draw controls. Quinn had a season-high three goals and picked up three ground balls in addition to controlling two draws. Senior Ali Palen caused two turnovers and scooped up one ground ball in her final game as a Duck. Loria had three goals and two ground balls, and junior Kara Borzillo caused a turnover, controlled two draws, picked up two ground balls, and added an assist.
Wasserman was huge all afternoon, scoring five goals, notching two assists, corralling two draws, picking up two ground balls, and causing two Devil turnovers. The championship game's MVP, Cassidy Callahan, played a great all-around game for the Stevens defense. She had a game-high six ground balls, caused four turnovers, and had four draw controls.
FDU (14-6) was led by Gambardello who registered four goals and one assist. Parent, senior Erin Reilly (Cinnaminson, N.J.), and senior Amanda Wayne (Bellport, N.Y.) all scored twice for the Devils.
