Lacrosse Rally Falls Short, Iona Wins 7-6

(boxscore)

3/26/05 -- Sophomores Amy Rizzo (Jackson, N.J.) and Kayleigh Graves (Orlando, Fla.) each scored two goals, but Long Island University could not overcome a stagnant first half in a 7-6 loss to Iona in college women’s lacrosse game on Saturday at the Parade Ground at Prospect Park.

The Gaels (3-2) got on the board quickly, netting the first score 58 seconds into the match. Attacker Katie Cavanaugh took a feed from classmate Kelly Butler, the first of two goals for the freshman. The Blackbirds (1-4) answered with a pair of goals. Rizzo and Graves tallied scores at the 4:28 and 7:12 mark, respectively, to take the lead.

Iona controlled the momentum for the next 20 minutes of play, netting four of the final five goals in the stanza. Cavanaugh found the back of the net off a pass from Butler behind the cage to push the advantage to 5-2 at the 16:12 mark. Rizzo delivered her second score for the Blackbirds, a high shot into the right side of the net, to cut the deficit to 5-3 at intermission.

The Gaels added two more scores in the first four minutes of the second half. An assisted score from Rachel O’Leary pushed the lead to 7-3 with 26 minutes remaining.

LIU fought back, adding its first tally of the second stanza on a free position goal from Kelly Moletress (Pottstown, Pa.) with 24:29 to play. Graves drove the circle, finding the net 44 seconds later and pulling the Blackbirds to 7-5.

Both teams struggled to find their offense over the next 17 minutes until LIU junior Chrissie Carleton (Jackson, N.J.) scored with 6:20 showing. The Blackbirds had several opportunities to pull even, including a free position chance by Nichole Lopez (Highland Mills, N.Y.) in the final 33 seconds that resulted in a charge call in the circle.

LIU goalies Amanda Childress and Tricia Parker split time in the net, combining for 10 saves. Iona netminder Roxanne Monte registered nine stops in 60 minutes.