AMHERST, Mass. - Sophomore midfielder Haley Smith scored a career-high six goals as the UMass women's lacrosse team defeated Stony Brook 14-9 on Saturday at McGuirk Stadium. After the Seawolves cut a five-goal deficit to just one with eight minutes left in the game, Smith scored twice to spark a four-goal run preserving the win. Senior attack Meghan Reddy added three goals as well in the win.

The Minutewomen improve to 3-4 overall, while the Seawolves fall to 3-5 on the year. UMass will return to action this Wednesday, March 18 at #13 New Hampshire with the opening draw set for 3:00 pm in Durham.

The Minutewomen held a commanding 34-to-16 advantage in shots including a 17-to-6 advantage in the first half. An 18-to-9 edge in groundballs and 13-to-11 edge in draw controls was key as the Minutewomen were able to keep possession for much of the game.

Reddy put the Minutewomen on the scoreboard first just two minutes into the game. Smith followed it up with a pair of her own before Stephanie Hopkins tallied a goal to make it 4-0 UMass with 22:46 left in the first half.

Smith added two more and Reddy added her second with 3:57 left in the first before Stony Brook's Jenna Celano hit a free position shot with 11 seconds remaining to make it a 7-3 game at half time.

The Seawolves made a fierce comeback in the second half scoring four of the first five goals in the half including two by Amy Hallion to come within one, 8-7, with 22:49 remaining in the game.

The teams traded a pair of goals as UMass withstood the Stony Brook run. Smith added a pair of goals to spark the four-goal run in the final 7:25 of the game to seal the win.

Freshman goalie Katie Florence picked up the win for UMass and added a game-high five groundballs and three caused turnovers.

* * * *

Amherst, Mass. (March 14, 2009) – The Stony Brook women's lacrosse team cut a five-goal deficit to as few as one, but a career-high six goals from Haley Smith helped Massachusetts to a 14-9 win in non-conference action at McGuirk Stadium. Seniors Amy Hallion (Glenelg, Australia) and Kim Wodiska (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) and sophomore Samantha Djaha (East Islip, N.Y.) each had two goals for the Seawolves, who snap their two game-winning streak and are now 3-5. The Minutewomen are 3-4.

Massachusetts took a 4-0 lead before Stony Brook scored its first goal of the game when Hallion fed Wodiska for her 6th goal of the season at 19:16. Junior Mickey Cahill (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was brilliant in goal for the Seawolves, making six saves in the first 20 minutes to keep the visitors in the game. Wodiska tallied her second goal of the game after picking up a ground ball on a shot from Djaha to make it a 4-2 game.

The Minutewomen re-took a 7-2 lead before senior Jenna Celano's (Farmingdale, N.Y.) free-position goal with 11 seconds left got the Seawolves within four, 7-3, going into halftime.

Stony Brook and UMass traded goals before the Seawolves scored three straight. Djaha, sophomore Courtney Bertolone (Farmingville, N.Y.) and Hallion each had tallies to get the Seawolves within one, 8-7. Cahill continued her solid play, stopping a free-position shot and forcing another one wide. At 21:07, Holly Drown's first goal of the game made it 10-8 but sophomore Melissa Cook (Bay Shore, N.Y.) would score on a free-position goal at 14:06 to get Stony Brook within a goal again.

Jackie Lyons' tally at 12:15 made it, 10-8 but Djaha's goal on an assist from freshman Abby Ford (Baltimore, Md.) was the Seawolves' final of the game. Smith had two of the Minutewomen's four goals as they won 14-9.

Wodiska also finished with two assists and a team-high four shots on the goal. Cahill finished with 15 saves for Stony Brook, which faces Denver at LaValle Stadium on Wednesday at 4:00 pm.

2009-03-14