Feb. 28, 2009
Box Score
FARMVILLE, Va. - The Navy women's lacrosse team put together a late-game rally but ultimately fell short in its first road game of the spring, dropping a 14-13 decision to host Longwood on Saturday afternoon at the Athletics Complex.
The setback is the Mids' first of the spring, dropping their overall record to 2-1, while the Lancers even their 2009 mark at 1-1.
"It was certainly a disappointing loss for us," said Navy head coach Cindy Timchal. "We have to get tougher on the road. It's still early in the spring, but we have to pick things up and improve."
The first half was a back-and-forth affair which saw a total of six ties and four lead changes. After a 4-1 Lancers surge midway through the period staked the hosts to a 5-3 lead, Navy, thanks to a pair of goals by freshman Madison Bell (Baltimore, Md.), responded with five of the game's next six scores to regain the lead, 8-6, with just 3:11 left to play.
Longwood, however, closed out strong with three goals in the final 93 seconds of the half to take a 9-8 advantage into the break.
The Mids opened the second half on a 2-1 run capped off by junior Brittany Amerau's (Alexandria. Va.) free position tally at 23:56, which evened things up at 10-10. The Lancers, however, would retake the lead for good just over a minute later on the first of three consecutive markers from Karli Brentlinger.
Trailing 13-10, Navy put together a 3-1 run to trimmed the deficit to 14-13 with 4:58 remaining, but the Mids failed to net the equalizer in the closing minutes and were saddled with their fifth loss in seven career games outside Annapolis.
Brentlinger led the eight different Lancers who found the back of the cage on Saturday afternoon with a career-high six goals.
Both Bell and sophomore Katrina Nietsch (New Canaan, Conn.) scored three goals apiece to lead the Mids. Junior Mary Ruttum (Annapolis, Md.) and freshman Kierstin King (Upperco, Md.) each finished with two goals and an assist to their credit, while Amerau, fellow junior Erin Rawlick (Forest Hill, Md.) and sophomore Caitlin Mandrin Hill (Annapolis, Md.) rounded out Navy's scoring with a goal apiece.
In the cage for the Midshipmen, freshman Elaina Ponchione (Silver Spring, Md.) played the full 60 minutes and turned away 14 shots.
The Mids will be back in action next Saturday, March 7 at 3:00 pm, when they host Lafayette in the Patriot League opener for both teams. The game will be played as part of a lacrosse doubleheader at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, as the Navy men take on the Leopards at noon.
Notes: Saturday's contest marked the program's 20th game at the Division I level ... Rawlick has now scored at least one goal in 20 consecutive games to begin her collegiate career ... the Mids are 11-2 all-time against non-league opponents.
### GO NAVY! ###
