Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/16/21
From Press Release
La Salle lacrosse overturned an 8-4 deficit to defeat Boston University on Monday, 10-9. The Explorers dominated the second half of play, scoring six and allowing only goal to complete the comeback.
Senior Annina Iacobucci (Villa Maria Academy) led all players with four goals and had the game-winner, while speedy sophomore Tori Rolon supplied a spark off the bench with a hattrick and an assist. In net, senior Molly Loughlin continued her formidable form with 12 saves on 21 shots.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Terriers sprinted out of the gates with three goals in the opening seven minutes. La Salle then responded as Rolon and Iacobucci scored on either side of a Boston goal to make it 4-2.
Two more for the Terriers pushed their advantage to four. Two more for Rolon closed the gap again, giving La Salle’s number six a first half hattrick. The visitors, however, finished stronger and found the back of the net twice to make it 8-4 at the intermission.
It took less than two minutes into the second frame for senior Bridget Ruskey (Middle Township-NJ) to get her name on the scoresheet, followed by classmate Emily Johnston (Ridley) two minutes later. And two minutes after that, sophomore Madi McKee (Garnet Valley) scored. Another two minutes passed by and Iacobucci tallied her second of the game, all in all tying the score at 8-8.
Breaking the pattern, seven minutes passed by before another goal was scored—and it was Iacobucci again, for a hattrick, to give the Explorers their first lead of the game. The Terriers bit back with their only score of the period, but Iacobucci would find the game winner with 6:28 on the clock. La Salle then denied Boston any way back for the remainder of the game.
Philly-Boston connection
For BU, Emily Vervlied (Wissahickon) had a goal, three groundballs, two caused turnovers and a draw control, Makenzie Irvine (Academy of Notre Dame) had two goals and an assist while Claire Gola (Academy of Notre Dame) scored once. BU’s head coach is Gwynedd Mercy Academy grad Lauren Morton.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Terriers turned up the heat in the second half, to no avail with Loughlin between the posts. The Forest Hill, Md. native denied Boston eight times to cement the win.
For Rolon, her four points match her career high that she set against Bucknell last season. For Iacobucci, the four goals rank third most in her career.
Ruskey finished tied for the team-high in ground balls with freshman Maddie Henderson (Harriton). La Salle’s number 27 also tallied three draw controls, while Henderson had two.
Pacing the Explorers on the draw was McKee with four, while senior Priya Kavuru (Cherry Hill East) led the team in caused turnovers with two.
With the win, La Salle claims the first game ever played between the two sides.
