Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/10/15
From Press Releases
What was a 1-1 game ten minutes in quickly turned in the University of Pennsylvania women’s lacrosse team’s favor as the 13th-ranked Quakers scored the game’s final 12 goals en route to a 13-1 win on a rainy day at Franklin Field.
Penn improves to 5-0 to begin the 2015 season, the longest winning streak to start a season since the 2011 team won its first six games. Overall, Penn has won its last eight games dating back to the end of last season — the longest overall win streak since the Red and Blue won nine in a row over parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Junior Nina Corcoran led the Quakers offensively, with two goals and five assists to factor into seven of Penn’s 13 goals.
However, it was Penn’s defensive unit which shone brightest in the game, allowing just one Hawks goal as Sarah Smith scored with 20:07 to play in the first half. For the next 50:07 of game play, Penn shut the door as Lucy Ferguson made the only three saves she was called upon to make down the stretch. The Red and Blue’s defense swarmed the Hawks, causing 19 of SJU’s 23 turnovers.
Twelve different players had at least one caused turnover for Penn, led by Meg Markham and Caroline Cummings who each had three. Nina Corcoran, Lely DeSimone and Lydia Miller each had two.
Penn also had the edge in draw controls, winning 11 to Saint Joseph’s five. The Hawks had been averaging 16 draw controls-per-game entering the game — ranking No. 5 in all of Division I. Catherine Dickinson had four draw controls for Penn, while Brooke Kiley and Natalie Stefan each had two.
The Quakers picked up 23 ground balls in the game, led by a pair of freshmen — Katie Cromie and Caroline Cummings — who each came off the bench to record four. Meg Markham finished the game with three ground balls while Lydia Miller and Lindsey Smith each had two.
The Red and Blue dominated the first half, building an 8-1 lead at the break. Lindsey Smith scored the first goal of the game just 1:34 in, finishing a Corcoran pass. The Hawks would tie the game just under eight minutes later, but that would be the last time the Hawks would find the back of the net.
A historic goal from Tory Bensen turned out to be the game-winner as the senior scored her 100th career goal with 16:18 left in the first half. That goal started a run of four Penn goals in a span of 3:20 which effectively put the game out of reach.
In the second half, Penn scored three times in the opening ten minutes, with goals from Catherine Dickinson, McKenzie Hunt and Nina Corcoran putting Penn ahead, 11-1. Corcoran would add her second of the game with 7:41 to play — off an assist from Caroline Cummings for her first career point. Bensen would complete her hat trick with 4:06 to play.
Courtney Emanuele had three caused turnovers and three ground balls for Saint Joseph’s, while Caroline Hagan (Hatboro-Horsham) and Nora McGeever (Archbishop Carroll) each had four ground balls. McGeever was a standout in goal despite the lopsided score, making 13 saves — including 10 in the second half.
Jacksonville 13, Lehigh 7
After falling down 4-0 early, Lehigh responded by scoring seven of the next 12 goals to pull within 9-7 midway through the second half, but Jacksonville ended the game with four straight goals.
Senior Carli Sukonik (Harriton) led the offense with three goals while classmate Kelly Scott spearheaded the defense with two groundballs and two caused turnovers, along with her second-career goal.
Division II
Chestnut Hill College 11, Queens (NY) 10
After their first four scheduled games were postponed due to weather, the Griffins rallied all the way back from a six-goal, second-half deficit to a victory in a soggy season opener. Sophomore midfielder Jacklyn O’Leary assisted on the tying goal and netted the game-winner herself with 1:33 remaining to hand Chestnut Hill College its first triumphant season opener in at least a decade.
Hunter Leckonby led CHC with three goals and an assist.
Division III
College of New Jersey 16, Cabrini 6
Senior Bree Thompson (Interboro) paired two goals and two assists, while classmate Lacie Doubet (Ridley) added two goals, but it wasn’t enough as Cabrini fell to 0-4 with tonight’s 16-6 loss at No. 6 The College of N.J.
Kendal Borup had a big game for the Lions as she collected 10 points on six goals and four assists for CNJ. With those six goals, she eclipsed the 100-goal mark for her career as she now has 105. Junior Cortney Natalicchio (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) added three goals, all in the second half, and Healy scored twice and assisted on two others.
Rutgers-Camden 12, Delaware Valley 5
Occidental 10, Haverford 8
Albright 18, Immaculata 1
Lynchburg 11, Swarthmore 5
Meredith 8, Ursinus 7
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