Brooklyn, N.Y. – The Long Island University women's lacrosse team used a late five-goal rally to clip Central Connecticut State, 16-15, on Sunday afternoon at LIU Field in a Northeast Conference matchup. The Blackbirds overcame a six-goal deficit late in the first as sophomore Annie Kalata (Nesconset, N.Y.) and freshman Ashley Prizio (Brookfield, Conn.) led the LIU attack with four goals apiece.

Long Island (2-4, 1-1 NEC) faced its biggest deficit of the game at 12-6 with 4:21 to play in the first half after an Ashley Perkoski goal for CCSU. LIU managed to score twice before halftime off of goals by Prizio and junior Christie Wienckowski (Newton Square, Pa.) to make it 12-8 at halftime.

Central Connecticut State (0-8, 0-3 NEC) opened the scoring in the second half before senior Allison Funk (Lumberton, N.J.) started a 3-0 run for the Blackbirds. Back-to-back goals by Kalata cut the CCSU lead to 13-11 with 18:43 to play. The Blue Devils responded with consecutive goals by Michele Conway and Perkoski to build a four-goal cushion with 15:11 left.

The Blackbirds' rally started with an unassisted goal from Kalata and was followed by two goals from Prizio. The second goal was set up by Wienckowski and made it 15-14 with 11:44 to play. Kalata tied the game 15 seconds later on a free position shot, before junior Jenna Schauder (Jackson, N.J.) scored the eventual game-winner with 10:42 to play on an unassisted effort.

CCSU pressed to tie the score, but freshman Amber Meek (Woodbridge, Va.) made three saves, including a stop on a free position shot with 2:37 left to preserve the win. Meek finished the game with 10 saves, including nine in the second half. Junior Jillian Maricondo (Levittown, N.Y.) picked up five ground balls, while junior Ilana Bernstein (Ithaca, N.Y.) caused three turnovers.

The Blackbirds got a pair of goals from Schauder to open up an early 2-0 lead before CCSU ran off three straight. A Prizio goal tied it at 3-3 before the Blue Devils used a 6-1 run to build a five-goal cushion. LIU freshman Claire Ranney (Jarrettsville, Md.) scored the only goal for the hosts during the run. CCSU built its largest lead of the day following goals by Lyndsey Mastandrea and Perkoski made it 12-6.

Perkoski led the attack for CCSU with four goals and an assist. Alice Lee made 16 saves in net and picked up five ground balls for the Blue Devils' defense.

Long Island hosts Iona in a non-conference tilt on Tuesday, March 24, at 4:00 p.m. on LIU Field.

2009-03-22