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Gator Lacrosse Falls in Conference Opener
April 2, 2006
MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College lacrosse team fell to 2-3 overall today with a loss to North Coast Athletic Conference rival Ohio Wesleyan (7-1, 2-0). The Gators got on the board first, but four-goal runs in both the first and second halves would prove to be too much for Allegheny to overcome in the 15-9 defeat.
Ashley Hughes (Wexford/ North Allegheny) got Allegheny the 1-0 lead under 30 seconds into the game after a nice spin move created some shooting space. The Battling Bishops answered quickly, however, with a pair of goals over the next three minutes.
Down 2-1, Kelly Towns (Pittsburgh/ Mt. Lebanon) (right) found the back of the net for Allegheny, tying the game, but 39 seconds later, and still just five minutes into the game, Ohio Wesleyan’s Jamie Blake picked up her first goal of the game, giving the visitors a 3-2 lead.
Allegheny’s Emily Deering (Hollis, Maine/ Bonny Eagle) (below) would continue the scoring fest, tying the game at three goals apiece just 32 seconds later. From here the Ohio Wesleyan defense would settle in, keeping Allegheny scoreless for the next 11 minutes, while the Bishop offense continued to strike, collecting four goals in that span.
Hughes would pick up her second goal 17 minutes into the game on an assist from Ashley Rogerson (Fairport, N.Y.), putting the Gators down three at 7-4, and six minutes later it would be Rogerson who beat the Bishop keeper, getting Allegheny to within two with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.
Ohio Wesleyan would up the lead with its eighth goal of the game four minutes later, but Rogerson got on the board again on a free position shot with two minutes to go in the half, putting the Gators down 8-6 at halftime.
In the first 30 minutes of action Allegheny out-shot Ohio Wesleyan 17-10, and had the advantage in ground balls and draw controls, but Ohio Wesleyan’s efficiency was the difference, as the guests scored on 8 of their 10 shots, with the two misses sailing just wide.
Ohio Wesleyan came out of the gates quickly after the seven-minute halftime break, scoring twice in the first 63 seconds. Allegheny would score three of the next four goals, however, returning the deficit to two goals at 11-9, as Rogerson, Hughes, and Anna Gordon (Portland, Maine/ Deering) scored unassisted over the next nine minutes.
With 20 minutes remaining the Bishops would seal the win, scoring four more goals and allowing none the rest of the way.
Allegheny finished with a 32-24 advantage in shots and 18-13 advantage in ground balls. The Gators caused twenty-two of Ohio Wesleyan’s 23 turnovers, while the Bishops were responsible for 13 of Allegheny’s 16 lost balls.
Hughes and Rogerson each scored a trio of goals, while Towns, Gordon, and Deering accounted for the rest of the Gator offense. Allegheny’s only assist came from Rogerson, who now has 11 points on the year. Hughes leads the team with 14 points, and led Allegheny in the game with five ground balls. Hughes and Deering caused four turnovers, while Towns and Katie Murphy (Venetia/ Peters Township) each caused three.
Allegheny’s Lesley Stange (Murrysville/ Franklin Regional) made four stops in goal for Allegheny, compared to Ohio Wesleyan’s 14 saves.
The Bishops made the most of free position shots, scoring on 4-of-9, while Allegheny was successful on just one of eight attempts.
The Gators have little time to rest, as they host Wooster in conference action on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. before heading to Buffalo State on Wednesday for a 4:00 p.m. contest. The Buffalo State game will conclude a stretch of four games in six days for Allegheny.