RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Caralyn Hickey (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River), Julia Lavelle (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac/Stony Brook) and Chrissy Gutenberger (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) each tallied three goals to lead the Manhattan women's lacrosse team to its first MAAC victory in a 14-12 triumph over Marist (6-2, 1-1 MAAC) on Friday in Riverdale. Lavelle scored the Lady Jaspers' final two goals, including the game winner on a free-position shot with 15:43 left in the contest.

Manhattan (6-2, 1-0 MAAC) battled back from a 2-1 deficit early in the first half when Lavelle, Helen Kerrisk (Keansburg, N.J./St. John Vianney) and Elizabeth Dugan (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) each contributed a score to the Lady Jaspers' three goal rally (4-2). Sophomore midfielder Phelicia VanOverbeke (Grossse Point, Mich./Grosse Point North) followed with back-to-back Manhattan goals, while the Red Foxes also used a pair of consecutive tallies from Stephanie Garland to keep pace. Garland led all scorers with four goals.

Red Foxes' attacker Kate Noftsker and midfielder Carolyn Sumcizk tied the contest at 6-6, and then Garland answered after a Hickey goal to pull into a 7-7 tie with 7:20 left in the half. But it was Kerrisk's goal with 4:03 on the clock that the Lady Jaspers into intermission with an 8-7 edge.

The Lady Jaspers and Red Foxes tied at eight and then nine early in the second half, before Manhattan recorded four unanswered goals to pull away (13-9). Two scores came off the sticks of Hickey, while Gutenberger and Lavelle added the other two.

Manhattan used a strong defensive effort in the last 12 minutes, and an insurance goal from Lavelle with 2:08 remaining to secure the victory. Senior goalkeeper Heidi Sheffer (Fort Edward, N.Y./Colonie) made seven of her eight saves in the second half en route to her first victory of the season.

The Lady Jaspers capitalized on 5-of-7 free position opportunities, while peppering Marist goalie Kelsey Thoms with 22 shots on goal. Thoms played the entire contest, and received her second loss of the year.

Manhattan returns to Gaelic Park on Sunday for its second MAAC match up of the weekend when the squad hosts Fairfield at 1:00 p.m.

2009-03-28