Women’s Lacrosse Holds Off Iona For First Victory of Season

(box score)

3/22/07-- The Long Island University women’s lacrosse team rallied from a five-goal deficit in the second half and held off Iona, 12-11, for its first win of the year on Thursday afternoon at LIU Field.

Senior Jackie McCormick (Liverpool, N.Y.) led the way for the Blackbirds’ offense, notching four goals and three assists, while sophomore Allison Funk (Lumberton, N.J.) added three goals. Freshmen Kristina Scheerer (West Chester, Pa.) and Christie Wienckowski (Newton Square, Pa.) each had a pair of scores to boost the LIU attack.

Long Island (1-4) fell behind 9-4 after Iona rattled off four goals in a seven-minute span in the second half, before mounting a late rally. McCormick’s second goal of the day at the 19:46 was the first of three-straight goals for LIU to jumpstart the rally.

Wienckowski’s free position shot at the 13:59 mark cut the deficit to 9-7, but Iona quickly answered less than 30 seconds later when Jaclyn O’Leary put home her fourth goal of the day to push the Gaels’ lead to three. The Blackbirds continued to pressure the Gaels’ defense and when Wienckowski converted another free position shot at the 12:48 mark, it started a decisive run of five-straight LIU goals.

McCormick scored on an unassisted effort at the 12:13 mark, followed by Funk’s goal off an assist from senior Amy Rizzo (Jackson, N.J.) to tie the game at 10-10 with 9:58 to play. McCormick gave LIU the lead on a solo effort and Scheerer’s goal with 3:34 pushed the lead to 12-10.

Iona (2-2) got within a goal at 12-11 after Christie Godlewski scored with 3:12 to play, but Long Island managed to spread the field and run the clock down. The Gaels had one last chance to tie the game, but Godlewski’s shot just before time expired went wide.

LIU held a 34-28 shot advantage for the game. Sophomore Kimberly Campbell (Malvern, Pa.) made nine saves in net for the Blackbirds, while Carlee Street turned away 14 shots for Iona.

Long Island built an early 2-0 lead after Funk converted on two early chances set up by McCormick. The Gaels tied the game before a goal by McCormick put the Blackbirds ahead 3-2 midway through the opening half. Iona rallied to score three-straight goals and take a 5-3 lead into halftime.

The Blackbirds return to action on Friday, March 23, with a 3:00 p.m. matchup at Sacred Heart in their Northeast Conference opener.