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ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT women's lacrosse team (2-2, 0-1 Empire 8) played its most complete game of the year, showing plenty of grit, but could not get past Nazareth, as the Golden Flyers (3-2, 1-0 Empire 8) never trailed and hung on to beat the Tigers, 9-8 in the Empire 8 opener at the RIT Turf Field on Saturday afternoon.
RIT trailed 9-7 late in the second half, before Jerica Young (Jay, NY/Northwood School) cut the Nazareth lead to one on a free position goal with 5:45 left. The Tiger defense held Nazareth at bay and had two possessions to tie the game late, but were unable to convert. RIT turned the ball over on a shot that was ruled a pass by the officials that went out of bounds with about two minutes left.
Nazareth goalkeeper Maria Fusco made the game-clinching save on a free position shot by RIT's Eileen Hennigan (Liverpool, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) with 32 seconds left. Hennigan tried to go high, but Fusco smothered the attempt. Nazareth was ablr to clear the zone and run out the clock for the win.
Danielle Previ (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) led RIT with two goals and an assist to go along with six draw controls. Allyson Pisher (Rochester, NY/Holley) and Jessica Cotton (Victor, NY/Victor) tallied two goals apiece. Hennigan had a goal and an assist.
Nora Davis scored three times for the Golden Flyers, who have never lost to RIT in 14 contests. Michelle Cook and Jennifer Young tallied twice. Cook scored the eventual game-winner with 9:33 remaining in regulation. Sara Spillane dished out two assists.
Nazareth out-shot RIT 26-20, although the Tigers held an 11-8 edge in shots over the final 30 minutes. The Golden Flyers also won the battle of the ground balls.
The Tiger defense held tough, as Ashley Pezze (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) led a stout group with six ground balls and two caused turnovers. Cotton had three caused turnovers, while Young and Stephanie Calhoun (Watertown, NY/General Brown) caused a pair of turnovers apiece.
Kelsey Evans (Carlisle, PA/Cumberland Valley) made 11 saves for RIT. Fusco stopped seven shots, including five in the second half for Nazareth.
Nazareth scored first and had six different two goal leads. RIT battled back to tie the game at 3 on back-to-back goals by Previ midway through the first half. The Golden Flyers led 5-4 at halftime.
RIT is right back in acton on Sunday, as they host St. John Fisher at the Turf Field, starting at 1 p.m. |
