SAINTS FALL TO NO. 11 UNION, 17-7

Mar. 29: Despite two goals from both senior co-captain Alanna Waters and first-year Kim Morse, the St. Lawrence University women’s lacrosse team wasn’t able to contain a fast Union College offense Saturday afternoon, as the nationally-ranked Dutchwomen defeated the Saints 17-7 in Liberty League action in Schenectady, NY.

The contest, which was the first Liberty League match-up of the season for the Saints, ended their four-game winning streak as they fell to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. No. 11 Union remains unbeaten thus far in 2008, tallying their fifth consecutive victory of the season and their second straight conference win after defeating Clarkson University 18-6 Friday night.

Sophomore Mary Jane Sweetland (Hopewell, NJ/Stuart Country Day) got the visiting team on the scoreboard first after getting the ball from Morse (Peaks Island, ME/Yarmouth Academy) and putting it behind Union goalie Melissa McDonald to give the Saints a 1-0 edge with 25:41 to play in the first. Union’s Caitlin Cuozzo evened things up with a goal at 23:45, but the Saints took back their one-goal advantage after senior co-captain Liz Skinner (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) passed the ball to first-year Kaitlyn Fahsel (Watertown, NY/South Jefferson), who put it between the posts to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Scarlet and Brown.

The Dutchwomen’s Keri Messa scored less than a minute later to even the score at 2-2 and spark a 6-0 Union run in just 15 minutes that would leave the Saints trailing 7-2 at the end of the first.

The second half saw Waters (Darien, CT/Taft) earn the first goal within the first 30 seconds after a foul was called on Union, sending the senior attack to the 8-meter for a free-position shot that she made after going one-on-one with McDonald. Union’s Kristin Joyce shot a ball into the Saints’ net with 26:53 remaining in the contest to set the pace for the Dutchwomen in the final period, as the home team had five unanswered goals in the next ten minutes to gain a comfortable 12-3 lead.

St. Lawrence was not down and out, as sophomore Julie Wooters ( New Canaan, CT/ New Canaan) had a goal with 14:43 left, igniting a 3-0 run that also included two goals from Morse, bringing the score to 12-6 with 11 minutes on the clock.

Union had five of the last six goals of the contest, with Waters’ second free-position goal with 8:23 remaining being the exception, to ensure their 17-7 victory.

“Our game started out great. When we were executing, we were patient with the ball and looking for quality scoring opportunities,” said Saints’ Head Coach Jodi Canfield. “We were able to hold them off defensively in the first half and not let them take any easy shots on goal.”

“They are a quality team and used a few fast-break chances to their advantage,” Canfield continues. “Their speed in their transition game was much better than ours and turned the tempo of the game.”

Union out shot the Saints 32-14, while also holding an 18-14 edge with groundballs. The home team also held a 13-9 draw controls advantage. St. Lawrence was 2-for-3 in free position shots, while Union was perfect, making their only shot from the 8-meter.

Morse and Waters both had two goals and an assist, while Fahsel recorded one of each. Sweetland, Wooters, and Skinner, each had a goal. Union was led by Messa, who had a game-high four goals and five assists.

First-year goalie Anna Marchand (Concord, MA/Middlesex School) recorded six saves, while McDonald tallied four for the Dutchwomen.

The Saints contest with Skidmore, originally scheduled for Friday, March 28, but postponed due to weather conditions, will take place tomorrow, March 30, at noon in Saratoga Springs, NY.