Lacrosse Rolls to a 13-8 Triumph Over St. Francis (PA)

(boxscore)

4/10/2005 -- Sophomore Kayleigh Graves (Orlando, Fla.) scored four goals and classmate Amy Rizzo (Jackson, N.J.) tallied six points -- three goals and three assists -- as Long Island University rolled to a 13-8 victory over St. Francis (PA) in Northeast Conference women’s college lacrosse action at Robert Blitz Field in Brookville, N.Y.

The Blackbirds (4-6, 3-2 NEC) got on the board first when junior Chrissie Carleton (Jackson, N.J.) capitalized on a free-position opportunity less than three minutes after the first draw for a 1-0 lead. The Red Flash answered with a free-position goal from Nicole Seick four minutes later to even the contest at 1-1. That would be as close as the visitors would come.

LIU would tally the next five scores of the game, rolling out to a 6-1 advantage. Junior Ashley Cockram (Orlando, Fla.) began the run, beating SFU netminder Samantha Morgan to give the Blackbirds a 2-1 advantage with 20:33 left in the half. Junior Nichole Lopez (Highland Mills, N.Y.) received a pass from Rizzo and buried it in the top shelf at the 11:14 mark for a 3-1 edge. Less than a minute later, Rizzo notched her first score of the game.

The Blackbirds extended the lead to 5-1 when Carleton scored an unassisted goal at the 14:21 mark. Graves registered her first score of the afternoon with 13:04 on the clock as LIU took the commanding 6-1 lead. The Blackbirds led 7-2 at intermission.

The teams traded goals four times over the first 13:46 of the second stanza for an 11-6 margin. Freshman Xiomara Garcia (Pottstown, Pa.) scored two goals over that span as Carleton recorded two assists.

Morgan completed her hat trick off a dish from Katy Green at the 55:34 mark as St. Francis (PA) pulled to 11-7. Graves opened it up offensively as she tallied two goals in final two minutes of the contest. Liz McCague registered the Red Flash’s final score with one second remaining.

Senior Patricia Parker (Long Branch, N.J.) was brilliant in goal, registering her sixth contest with double digit saves this season with 11. Classmate Kelly Moletress (Pottstown, Pa.) paced the Blackbirds with four ground balls. LIU held a 33-23 edge in shots.

The Blackbirds will host Monmouth in their home finale Friday, April 15 at the Parade Ground in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Game time is set for 1:00 pm.