HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 24, 2012) – Fifth-ranked The College of New Jersey defeated No. 18 Stevens Institute of Technology by a score of 18-6 in a non-conference women's lacrosse game at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. Tuesday night. The Lions scored the game's first six goals and never looked back, improving to 13-3 with the win. Stevens falls to 9-6 overall and will host Hartwick College in its regular-season finale on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Junior midfielder Alex Spark (Harvey Cedars, N.J.) and sophomore midfielder Lauren Pigott (Jobstown, N.J.) were responsible for five of the game's first six tallies as the Lions opened a 6-0 advantage 9:56 into the action. Senior attack Michelle Buonacuore (Medford, N.J.) was able to score on a nice pass from junior midfielder Spencer Waybright (West Hartford, Conn.) to get the Ducks on the board 11:11 in, but the Lions answered with a pair of their own to push the margin to seven (8-1) with 17:18 left in the first.
Sophomore midfielder Kara Rafferty (Bayshore, N.Y.) tallied to get the Ducks within six, but again, the Lions answered with a pair to push the lead to 10-2 at the 9:36 mark of the first half. Buonacuore's second of the night briefly slowed the vistitor's momentum, but a goal from senior midfielder Kathleen Notos (Pennsauken, N.J.) sent TCNJ into intermission with an 11-3 lead.
The Lions scored the first four of the second period to make it a 15-3 game with the first Duck tallies of the second half coming from Rafferty and senior defender Ashley Carey (Mahopac, N.Y.). Spark and Notos scored the final three Lion goals with Buonacuore netting the final Stevens marker.
TCNJ ended with a 32-12 edge in shots and a 17-10 margin in ground balls. TCNJ won 15-of-26 draws and only committed five turnovers.
Buonacuore led Stevens with three goals, with Rafferty picking up two and three draw controls. Junior midfielder Joey Galligan (Burlingame, Calif.) won three draw controls, picked up two ground balls and caused two turnovers, while Carey had two ground balls and a goal. Junior defender Teegan Kelly (Charlton, N.Y.) had two draw controls and a ground ball. Junior goalie Meg Collins (Marshfield, Mass.) made seven saves for the Ducks, with sophomore Sarah Prall (Lansdale, Pa.) picking up three stops.
Spark led TCNJ with eight points on seven goals and an assist with Pigott tallying three times and handing out one helper. Senior midfielder Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) had three assist and Notos had four goals and two helpers. Pigott added six ground balls, six draws and three caused turnovers to her line, with sophomore Kelsey Zinck (Burke, Va.) making six saves between the pipes for TCNJ.
Stevens will honor its seniors at 3:45 p.m. prior the Hartwick clash and all the action will be webcast live at www.Empire8.Tv.
