Gators Succumb to Second-Half Surge

Apr 12, 2007

Box Score

LATROBE, Pa. – The Allegheny College women’s lacrosse team ran off a 6-0 run in the first half to take a commanding 8-5 lead against Saint Vincent College, but the rain and wind eventually took its toll on the Gators as the Lady Bearcats poured in 10 second-half goals to grab a 17-9 non-conference win on Thursday (April 12) evening.

Saint Vincent (4-2) started strong on its home field despite the consistent rain and gusting wind, scoring each of the first four goals, including two by Meredith Ruffing. Allegheny (2-6) sliced its deficit in half with a pair of scores, the first coming off a free position attempt by first-year Meg Grossman (Lexington, Ky./Sayre School) at 17:43 and the second coming just 44 seconds later as Christina Zanic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) found the back of the net.

Following another goal by the hosts that upped the score to 5-2, the Gators surged ahead with a dominating 6-0 run that included multiple caused turnovers and draw controls. Freshman Elissa Gordon (Portland, Maine/Deering) jump-started the offense with her first career goal at 9:58 off a pass from Michelle Dudevoir (West Point, N.Y./O’Neill), while Dudevoir cashed in on each of her next two shots. Following a goal by Lana Cannon (Peaks Island, Maine/Portland) at 4:38, Zanic completed a hat trick with consecutive scores at 2:18 and 1:24 to cap Allegheny’s first-half barrage.

The Lady Bearcats were down but not out, ending the half with two goals in the final minute, and opening the second half with a run of their own, reeling off five consecutive goals before the Gators reached the scoreboard again. Dudevoir accounted for that lone score, taking the ball on her own and scoring Allegheny’s only second-half goal, completing a hat trick at 11:02 to cut the lead to 12-9.

Saint Vincent closed the game with a five-goal run, tallying assists on each play.

Junior Lesley Stange (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) started in goal for the Gators, tallying six saves against nine goals, while freshman Rachael Coons (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) played the final 22:08, allowing eight goals and netting four saves.

Four players hit the scoring column at least three times for Saint Vincent, led by Lauren Eller and Meredith Ruffing with four each. Jenna Moon and Laura Fedor each tallied six points on three goals and three assists.

Allegheny resumes conference play this weekend against perennial conference power Denison University. The Gators and Big Red square off on Saturday, April 14, at 11 a.m., in a re-match of the 2006 North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship game.

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