FINAL STATS

Staten Island, NY – Senior attacker Carolyn Clark (Syracuse, NY/ Westhill) tied her career-high with five goals and sophomore midfielder Michela Galante (Maplewood, NJ/ Maplewood) recorded career highs in goals (3) and assists (2) to lead the Seahawks women's lacrosse team to a rousing 16-9 victory over Manhattan at cold, rainy and wind-swept Wagner College Stadium.

In posting its first victory of the season, Wagner improves to 1-3 while the Jaspers saw their season record fall to 1-2.
Junior attacker Erika Bulken (Baldwinsville, NY/ C.W. Baker), who entered the game ranked fifth in the nation in draw controls, came up with 10 on the afternoon, marking the second time this season that she has amassed 10 draw controls in a game. Bulken also added two assists on the afternoon.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Shannon Sweeney (Madison, NJ/ Madison) displayed both poise and skill in the cage, registering seven saves in her first career start.

The Seahawks out-shot Manhattan, who was led by Chrissy Gutenberger's five goals and one assist, by a 39-24 margin. Wagner also held a 19-8 edge in draw controls and a 24-19 advantage in ground balls. On free position shots, Wagner was 5-of-8 while the Jaspers were 3-of-6.

The first half was largely an evenly-played affair that featured an uncanny five ties. As the two teams continually alternated goals,the game was knotted at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5. With the score tied at 5-5, the Seahawks began to exert their will as they closed the half with a 4-0 run over the final 8:24 in summoning a 9-5 halftime bulge.

Clark got things started by burying a free position shot at the 8:24 mark which put Wagner on top for good at 6-5. That's the way things stood until senior midfielder Melanie Garces (San Diego, CA/ Westview) slammed home an unassisted goal the 5:33 mark which put the Seahawks up 7-5, while providing the first multiple goal lead for either team.

The next five minutes was a defensive affair until Wagner, and more specifically, sophomore attacker Sam Morin (Rockville Centre, NY/ South Side), erupted for two fast-break goals in the final 22 seconds to give the Seahawks their comfortable 9-5 cushion and plenty of momentum heading into halftime.

The first of Morin's nearly carbon copy goals was set up in the back when sophomore defender Katy Bender (Cherry Hill, NJ/ Cherry Hill West) forced a turnover that was scooped up by senior midfielder Lauren Petrik (Baldwinsville, NY/ C.W. Baker). Petrik fired the ball ahead to a sprinting Galante who then darted a pass to her right to a full-striding Morin. The 5-5 Morin caught the ball on the dead run and fired home the goal to make it 8-5 with 22 seconds left in the half.

Following a yellow card on Manhattan's Breana Leonard at the 19-second mark, Bulken won the ensuing draw control and fed to a sprinting Galante who again found Morin ahead of the field on the right wing. The 2011 All-NEC Freshman Team member did the rest, sinking a near-identical goal to the one she had previously executed, this one coming at the 15-second mark, giving her two goals in a span of seven seconds and Wagner breathing room at intermission.

The Jaspers scored the first two tallies of the second half to make things interesting at 9-7 before Wagner answered with a pivotal 3-0 run on goals by Clark, Petrick and senior midfielder Deneida McCullough (Freeport, NY/ Freeport) in building a 12-7 lead and the Seahawks led by at least four goals the rest of the way.

Morin finished with three goals for Wagner while Bulken added two goals and an assist.

Manhattan goalkeeper Christine Fiorinelli was kept busy in goal afternoon and managed to come up with 11 saves.

Wagner travels to Long Island on Saturday to meet Siena in the third annual Oyster Bay Classic at Ellsworth Park. First draw is set for 1:00 pm.