LIU Women’s Lacrosse Cruises Past Saint Francis (Pa.), 20-4

(box score)

4/7/07-- Senior Amy Rizzo (Jackson, N.J.) and freshman Christie Wienckowski (Newton Square, Pa.) led the Long Island women’s lacrosse team to its second-straight win, a dominating 20-4 victory over Northeast Conference opponent Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday morning at LIU Field in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Wienckowski led LIU with six goals, including the game-winner for the second-straight game. She added an assist and two ground balls, while Rizzo chipped in with five goals, an assist, three ground balls and five draw controls.

The pair helped Long Island (4-8, 2-3 NEC) jump out to a 5-0 lead and roll to a comfortable win. Sophomore Allison Funk (Lumberton, N.J.) opened the scoring just over a minute into play. Wienckowski followed with a pair of goals sandwiched around a pair from Rizzo to give LIU a five-goal lead at the 21:34 mark. Brittany Bullion got the Red Flash on the board at the 18:04 mark to make it 5-1, but the Blackbirds responded by scoring the next 13 goals over the span of two halves to pull away.

Senior Kelly Betancur (Orlando, Fla.) made it 6-1 off a feed from Wienckowski. Freshman Kristina Scheerer (West Chester, Pa.) and Wienckowski alternated the next six scores, before Betancur added another right before halftime to make it 13-1 at the intermission.

Long Island continued to dominate in the second half, as senior Jackie McCormick (Liverpool, N.Y.) scored her only goal of the day at the 28:37 mark and increased her point-scoring streak to 22 games. A pair of goals from Rizzo and one apiece from Wienckowski and freshman Elise Victoria (Baltimore, Md.) made it 18-1 midway through the second half.

Saint Francis (0-7, 0-5 NEC) got another goal from Bullion to snap LIU’s scoring run, but it was too little too late. Victoria added another score off a free position shot, before the Red Flash got late tallies from Belynda Gardner and Rachel Bucci to make it 19-4. Rizzo added a final tally for LIU off a pass from freshman Jillian Maricondo (Levittown, N.Y.).

The Blackbirds held a commanding 43-15 advantage in shots and forced 26 turnovers. LIU also held 20 draw controls, to just five for Saint Francis. Sophomore Kimberly Campbell (Malvern, Pa.) had to make just four saves on the day to collect the win.

Scheerer finished with three goals and an assist to bolster the LIU attack, while Betancur and Victoria each added a pair of scores. The Blackbirds had a strong defensive day, as five players picked up three ground balls.

The Blackbirds return to action on Friday, April 13, when they host NEC foe Central Connecticut State in a 4:00 p.m. game at LIU Field.