Feb. 22, 2009
Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Freshman Kierstin King scored four goals and the Navy women's lacrosse team went on a 10-0 run over an 18-minute, 39-second span to run away from Detroit Mercy at a cold and snowy Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The win improves Navy's overall record to 2-0, while Detroit Mercy, in its first year of playing Division I lacrosse, falls to 1-1.
The win was Navy's 13th in a row at home, the second-longest home-winning streak in the country.
"We didn't know a whole lot about Detroit Mercy, but we knew they had some athletic kids," said Navy head coach Cindy Timchal. "We struggled some early with their athleticism, but we are happy to come out with a decisive victory."
The Mids struggled out of the gates early, falling behind 2-1 when Anna Eidem scored for the Titans with 18:57 to play in the first half. However, Brittany Amerau tied the game at two on an assist by King with 14:19 to play.
Navy then blew the game open late in the first half, scoring five goals in a four-minute, 41-second span to break open a tie game and grab a 7-2 advantage with 6:10 to play. Dani Vivonetto scored twice during the run, which came in large part to Navy's defensive effort.
King and Katrina Nietsch would add late goals in the first half for a 9-2 halftime advantage.
"They really had a shell, zone-like defense and we struggled with it early. I thought their goalie was spectacular," said Timchal. "We had 30 shots in the first half and only scored on nine of them, shooting just 30 percent. We just came out a little slow, but we picked it up late in the half."
The Mids pushed the lead to 11-2 early in the second half thanks to goals by King and Erin Rawlick, but Detroit Mercy answered with a pair of back-to-back netters to cut the margin to 11-4 with 22:10 to play. Navy answered with three straight goals in a three-minute, 12-second span to push the lead to 10 at 14-4. The Titans would score the last two goals of the game for the final margin.
"We struggled again in the second half with some of their individual plays and were a little bit sloppy," said Timchal. "It was hard to stop them without fouling."
Navy outshot the Titans, 45-21, and had 26 ground balls to Detroit Mercy's 19. The Mids also won 17-of-22 draw controls, but hurt themselves with 20 turnovers. Navy was 12-of-15 on clears, while the Titans were 14-of-29.
King led Navy with a career-high five points (4 g, 1 a), scoring two goals in each half.
"She was all over the field today and was a huge spark on the offensive end," said Timchal. "She is definitely a player that is hungry to show how good she is and she did that today."
Nietsch added three goals and an assist and Rawlick scored one goal with four helpers. Vivonetto and Amerau each scored a pair of goals. Freshman Elaina Ponchione stopped 10 shots in goal to earn her second win of the season.
Emily Boissonneault scored three goals for Detroit Mercy and Corina Mahorn added a pair. Brett Yenger stopped 16 shots in goal for the Titans.
Navy will return to action next weekend when it heads to Farmville, Va., for a 1:00 pm start at Longwood.
# GO NAVY #
