GLASSBORO, N.J. – The Gettysburg College women's lacrosse team continued its defensive stand by holding its fourth consecutive opponent to a season-low goal total on Monday as the sixth-ranked Bullets defeated host Rowan University 12-4 and improved to 7-0 on the year. Juniors Jessica Crane (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury), Nina Emala (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr), and Hollis Stahl (Highstown, N.J./Peddie School) each tossed in three goals for the visitors.

After allowing 15 goals against St. John Fisher College on March 11, Gettysburg's defense has been near-infallible and has held its last four foes to eight goals or less. Rowan (2-3) committed 28 turnovers on Monday and tied its lowest goal total of the year, set in a 15-4 loss to third-ranked Franklin & Marshall College on March 10.

The Bullets jumped on the board in just over a minute as junior Lexie Hearn (Old Greenwich, Conn./Old Greenwich) scored off a pass from sophomore Marnie Commins (Fairfax Station, Va./Robinson). Emala made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal just two minutes later.

Rowan got on the board before the six-minute mark on a Nicole Valianti goal, but Crane turned in back-to-back scores less than a minute apart to up the margin to 4-1. Valianti again hit the target to cut the deficit to two before a three-goal spurt by the visitors powered by Stahl led to a 7-2 advantage with 43 seconds left in the half. Stahl scored the first and third goals, while dishing out an assist to Commins. The Profs added a free position goal to pull to 7-3 before the break.

After trading goals to start the final period, the Bullets locked down defensively and held the hosts off the board for the final 20:09. Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week Kristen Krammer (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) made four of her seven saves in the final stanza, while Emala picked up a goal and an assist down the stretch.

Emala notched her fifth game with six or more points this season, adding three assists to her hat trick. She also tied Hearn for the team lead with four ground balls. Stahl posted two assists, three ground balls, and led the way for Gettysburg with three draw controls and three caused turnovers. Hearn added two goals, two assists, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers, while junior Anna Scanlan (Lutherville, Md./Roland Park Country School) posted three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Valianti finished with two goals and two draw controls for Rowan, while Tara Dinn posted four ground balls and four caused turnovers. Kerry Pehnke and Alicia Mannino each played a half in goal for the Profs and combined for 11 saves.

Gettysburg resumes its conference schedule at home this weekend, hosting Washington (Md.) College at Clark Field on Saturday, March 28, at 1:00 p.m.

2009-03-23