April 20, 2008

Final Stats

Brooklyn, NY - The Wagner College women's lacrosse team fell behind 5-1 early and trailed 8-5 at halftime but came roaring back in the second half with six unanswered goals in posting a rousing 19-17 Northeast Conference victory at Long Island University.

With the win, Wagner improved to 3-12 on the season, 3-5 in the NEC while LIU fell to 3-13, 2-6 in league play.

Junior midfielder Cara Gonzalez (Syracuse, NY, Westhill) poured in a career-high six goals and assisted on another while sophomore midfielder Krista Malayter (Cheshire, CT/ Cheshire) added five goals. Junior attacker Jessica Richmond (Jenkintown, PA/ Jenkintown) chipped in with three goals while junior midfielder Kelly Blundin (Plymouth Meeting, PA/ Plymouth Whitemarsh) added two goals and three assists.

Wagner took a quick 1-0 lead when Gonzalez scored just 14 seconds into the contest, before LIU responded with a 5-0 run. Allison Funk scored the first two Blackbirds goals, taking an assist from Jillian Maricondo on the second to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. Maricondo got into the scoring column with her first of the day at the 24:56 mark on an unassisted effort and LIU increased its lead to three goals after Sarah James scored off an assist from Funk. Sam Fischbeck staked LIU to a 5-1 lead with a free position goal at the 17:57 mark.

Gonzalez and Malayter helped Wagner get within 5-3 on consecutive goals within 36 seconds of each other, before Christie Wienckowski and Jenna Schauder answered to give LIU a 7-3 lead. Malayter braced a pair of goals around a score by LIU's Gabrielle Gorbey to make it 8-5 at the half.

The Seahawks came out firing after intermission, scoring the first three goals on a pair of Richmond tallies sandwiched around a Gonzalez score to tie the game at 8-8 with 25:58 remaining. Gorbey's second goal of the day gave LIU a momentary lead before Blundin tied it for Wagner on a free position shot. The Blackbirds came right back with a pair of goals from Maricondo to take an 11-9 lead at the 22:20 mark. Following another goal by Malayter, the Blackbirds answered with scores by Funk and Fischbeck to build a 13-10 lead with 17:20 to play.

Wagner then responded with its game-changing 6-0 run framed by goals from Gonzalez to take a 16-13 lead, a lead the Seahawks would not surrender. Also scoring goals during Wagner's scoring surge were freshman attacker Karen Vitkus (Skaneateles, NY/ Skaneateles), Richmond, Malayter and sophomore attacker Gabrielle Hilk (Wilmington, DE/ Alexis I. DuPont). Maricondo scored a solo effort for LIU that made it 16-14 with 6:52 to play, but Wagner answered with a pair of goals from Blundin and Gonzalez to push the lead to 18-14.

Annie Kalata and sophomore Kristina Scheerer scored consecutive goals for the Blackbirds to make it 18-16, but the Seahawks scored with 2:22 to play on a Noll goal off an assist from senior defender Jessica Bajkowski (Fairfa, VA/ Robinson). Kalata got a goal back with 1:08 to play, but Wagner managed to stifle a pair of LIU attacks in the final minute to hold on.

Junior goalies Alex Johnston (Manlius, NY/ Fayetteville-Manlius) and Amy Jones (Jarrettsville, MD/ North Harford) recorded five and two saves, respectively for the Seahawks. Kimberly Bostwick turned away 19 shots for LIU, which was led in scoring by Maricondo who had four goals. The Seahawks held a 49-30 advantage in shots, a16-14 edge in ground balls and won 17-of-38 draw controls.

Wagner is next in action on Tuesday, April 22 when the Seahawks host Binghamton in the 2008 season finale at 4:00 pm. This will also be Senior Day for the Seahawks as the Wagner College women's lacrosse program will honor seniors Jessica Bajkowski and Brianne Fitzgerald (Ridge, NY/ Longwood) in a pre-game ceremony.