WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior Alyssa Ritchie (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) broke Kellyn Riccitelli's program record of 144 career goals with four tallies against New Haven on Saturday afternoon, but the Bentley University women's lacrosse team fell short 11-7 in its Northeast-10 opener.

Ritchie entered the game with 142 goals and needed just two goals to tie the record and three to break it. She tied the record with 8:55 left in the first half on an unassisted goal that made the score 5-2 in favor of New Haven. The record breaker came just 24 seconds later when she scored again, with junior Jaclyn Griffin (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) on the assist.

Ritchie now holds Bentley's three major career scoring records. Last season she set the career records for points and assists and now has 146 goals, 104 assists and 250 points.

The Falcons fell behind in this game 3-0. With New Haven holding a 1-0 lead, freshman attack Sarah Magnone scored twice in a row 2:41 apart. Ritchie got Bentley on the scoreboard with her first of the game with 16:04 left, but the Chargers added two more goals to take a 5-1 lead just past the 11 minute mark.

Ritchie's record breaking goals got Bentley closer, but another goal wasn't scored until there was 39 seconds left in the first half, which went New Haven's way courtesy of Mallory Ferrandiz, giving the home side a 6-3 lead at halftime.

New Haven scored two of the first three goals of the second half, but freshman Maggie Schoening (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) brought Bentley to within 8-5 with 17:58 remaining. More than seven minutes elapsed before another goal, with freshman Alexis Gabe scoring it for New Haven.

Ritchie brought Bentley closer at 9-6 with her fourth goal of the game, but timing was running short with only 3:56 remaining. Magone scored the crucial next goal for the Chargers 43 seconds later, then added another one with 2:18 left to seal the win.

Bentley falls to 1-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play, while New Haven runs its perfect record to 5-0 and 3-0 in the NE-10.

The Falcons are back in action Sunday against No. 2 Adelphi in Garden City, N.Y. at 12:00 p.m.

2009-03-21