GLASSBORO, N.J. (March 27, 2010) – Junior Leah Wasserman found the back of the net seven times to help lift the eighth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team to a 14-7 win at Rowan University on Saturday afternoon. The win is the first in Glassboro for Stevens in program history as the Ducks improve to 5-1 on the season. In addition to Wasserman, senior captain Alyssa Pigott and junior Christine Smith had three and two goals, respectively. Senior goalkeeper Shannon McFadden also made nine saves in goal for the Ducks.
Stevens got on the board 4:33 into the game when freshman Spencer Waybright found Smith, and 1:40 later Wasserman recorded her first tally of the game on a free-position attempt.
The two defenses flexed their muscle over the game's next 16-plus minutes with neither team generating many quality scoring chances, but the Profs (3-2) were able to get on the board with 8:38 left in the half to make it a 2-1 game.
Wasserman notched an unassisted goal 36 seconds later, and after a Rowan score, Pigott scored her first of the afternoon with 1:09 left in the opening stanza to give Stevens a 4-2 edge going into break.
Pigott opened the second-half scoring with a goal 2:16 in, but senior Tori Hart (Mount Laurel, N.J.) pulled Rowan back within two (5-3) 4:46 later. The two teams traded goals before the Ducks erupted for six-straight and 8-of-9 to put the game out of reach.
Waybright started the run with 13:25 left and junior Michelle Buonacuore followed with her third goal of the season to make it 8-4 Stevens. Wasserman then ran off four-straight goals over a span of just 2:19, and before Rowan could catch its breath, the Ducks had built a 12-4 lead with just 5:14 to go.
Rowan scored three of the game's final five goals but it was too little too late as the six-straight goals from the 46th minute to the 54th minute proved to be he difference.
Wasserman finished with seven goals, a game-high six draw controls, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers in a monster performance. Pigott finished with three goals, an assist, and three ground balls, while Smith finished with two goals and four draw controls. Waybright scored once, handed out one assist, and scooped up three ground balls, and Buonacuore had a goal, an assist, and one ground ball. Junior captain Kate Cox caused a team-high three turnovers.
Stevens outshot Rowan, 30-20, and won the ground-ball battle, 14-10. The Ducks were 3-for-7 on free-position attempts, while McFadden blanked Rowan (0-for-7). Stevens also won 14-of-23 draw controls.
Hart and junior Alli Dickey (Stevensville, Md.) each scored twice for the Profs. Dickey also picked up three ground balls and controlled three draws.
Stevens will return to action with a pair of Empire 8 home games on April 2 and 3 against Alfred University and Utica College at the De Baun Athletic Complex. Both contests will be webcast live at www.PennAtlantic.com.
