March 29, 2008
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Navy women's lacrosse team rallied in the second half, but couldn't overcome a slow start in the first half in falling to Davidson, 15-10. The loss was Navy's second in as many games on the road this year and dropped the Mids' record to 7-2 overall. Davidson improved to 7-3 on the season.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 advantage early in the contest on goals by three different players. The Mids rallied to cut the lead to 3-2 on goals by sophomores Mary Ruttum and Erin Rawlick. However, Davidson scored the next four goals to grab a 7-2 lead late in the first half. Freshman Meg Decker scored to stop the bleeding, but the Wildcats tallied the last three goals of the first half for a 10-3 halftime advantage.
Davidson would take its biggest lead of the game early in the second half on a goal by Sarah Walter, before Navy started its rally.
Two goals by Ruttum and one by Decker cut the Davidson cushion to 11-6. After Davidson tallied the next two goals for a 13-6 lead, Katrina Nietsch, Amanda Towey and Rawlick would score the next three goals to cut the margin to 13-9 with just over 10 minutes to play. The Mids then went scoreless on their next three possessions in their attempt to cut into the lead even further before Davidson put the game away by scoring the next two goals of the contest, settling in for the 15-10 decision.
The Mids outshot Davidson, 33-30, on the afternoon, but went just 8-of-11 on clears, while Davidson was 19-of-22. Navy also stopped just eight shots in goal, while Davidson was credited for 12 saves.
Decker led the Mids with five points (3 g, 2 a) and now has 40 points (30 g, 10 a) nine games into her freshman campaign. Ruttum scored three goals and Erin Rawlick contributed a pair.
Natalie Blandon, who was credited with an assist during the game, made six stops in goal, while Vanessa Nieves stopped one shot.
The Mids will host American on Tuesday, April 1, beginning at 5:00 pm at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The game will be streamed online as part of the Navy All-Access package with Joe Miller calling all the action.
# GO NAVY #
