Virginia Beach, Va. – Four goals by senior midfielder Allie Zerhusen (Cockeysville, Md./Park) lifted the No. 16 St. Mary's College of Maryland women's lacrosse team to a 13-7 victory over Virginia Wesleyan College in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.

Seniors Lauren Carrier (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) and Emily Norris (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) each notched two goals and an assist in helping the Seahawks to their sixth consecutive win. Carrier also extended her NCAA Division III record for consecutive games with at least one goal to 49 straight. She started the streak as a freshman on April 15, 2006 with one goal in a loss to the University of Mary Washington.

Virginia Wesleyan (3-3) opened up with a 3-0 run before St. Mary's responded with three of its own, including a pair from Zerhusen, to knot the game at 3-all at 15:54. Senior defender Cara Tinelli (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) converted on a free position shot to return the lead to the Marlins just 31 seconds later.

However, the Seahawks (6-1) went on to close the first half on a 6-0 run as Norris, Zerhusen, and Mirkin each tallied two goals apiece to put the visitors ahead 9-4 at halftime, while junior attacker Kelsey Branch (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) assisted on three of the goals.

St. Mary's increased its lead to 11-4 with back-to-back goals from junior attacker Nora Fallon-Oben (Silver Spring, Md./St. John's College [D.C.]) and Carrier to start the second half. Marlin attackers Jordan Venetis (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks), Laura Norris (Hollywood, Md./Leonardtown) and Courtney Williams (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) netted three of the game's final five goals for the 13-7 final.

Midfielders Aubrey Mirkin (Ashton, Md./Sherwood) and Caitlin Nichols (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) contributed five ground balls each as the Seahawks posted a 33-32 edge in ground balls. St. Mary's also owned a 13-9 advantage in draw controls as Carrier, Mirkin, and Zerhusen each grabbed three draws.

Six different players scored for the Marlins as VWC out-shot the Seahawks, 23-19.

Freshman goalie Colleen Simpson (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) turned away six shots and had one ground ball for the Seahawks, while senior Ashley Sippel (Leesburg, Va./Ashburn Stone Bridge) had four saves and three ground balls in the loss.

The Seahawks will continue their seven-game road trip with a non-conference contest in Washington, D.C. against No. 14 Catholic University on Wednesday, March 18 at 4:00.

2009-03-14