Brookhaven, NY - The Dowling College women's lacrosse team dropped their fourth contest of the season 14-10 to No. 1 Adelphi University Wednesday night. The Golden Lions fall to 8-4 overall, while the Panthers stay perfect at 13-0.

The Golden Lions fell short against Adelphi despite leading after first half 7-4. There were many bright spots for Dowling as sophomore midfielder Kelly Cefalu scored four goals. Junior defender Brianna Falese netted three goals. Sophomore midfilder Cassi Cronin scored two goals and grad student Alison Smith added one. Sophomore Rachael Goldstein set a new single game save record by stopping 19 shots on goal.

Dowling had their work cut out for them, taking on the nationally ranked Adelphi University on Wednesday night. With the win the Panthers continue their bid for an undefeated season. However, tonight's final score was their slimmest margin of victory (14-10). In fact, the Lady Lions lead for the majority of the game, but were unable to hold off a late Panther rally.

After Brianna Falese scored on a free shot to open up the scoring in the second half; both teams would exchange goals, followed by 9 unanswered goals by Adelphi. With the score at 14-9 and timing running out Dowling would fight to get back the momentum but were only able to strike one more time, as Kelly Cefalu scored with less than a minute remaining.

The Golden Lions trailed 44-27 in shots and 29-21 in ground balls, but split 26 draw controls with the Panthers (13-13).

Dowling is on the road again on Sunday, May 6 when they travel to Maryland to take on Limestone. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.

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Oakdale, N.Y. - Freshman Erica Devito notched the game-winner with 11:36 left to play as the #1 Adelphi University women's lacrosse team surged past Dowling College, 14-11, in a second half rally. The Panthers improve to 13-0 and 1-0 in the ECC, while the Golden Lions fall to 8-4 and 2-2 in the league.

The Panthers found themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing 2-0 to start the game. Sophomore Michelle Ceraso got Adelphi on board in the 5th minute on a free position goal. Freshman Alison Staudt knotted the score at 2-2 at 21:40. The Golden Lions rattled off three unanswered goals over the next ten minutes to lead 5-2.

Junior Holly Burke found the back of the net on a one of four assists from senior Rachel Ray in the 27th minute. Sophomore Kaitlyn Carter followed with an unassisted goal to close the gap, 5-4, with 2:21 remaining in the half. The Golden Lions managed two more goals in the final 1:39 with Kelly Cefalu collecting her third goal of the half on an asisst by Cassandra Cronin who then followed with her own unassisted shot. Adelphi trailed, 7-4, at intermission.

Dowling continued its rally in the second half as Brianna Falese tallied her third goal of the game in the 36th minute. Less than a minute later freshman Marissa Mills snapped the 3-0 rally. Cronin managed one more goal, but then the Panthers picked up steam, rattling off nine unanswered goals.

Mills, who finished with three goals, notched the game-tying goal after securing the draw control with 18:48 left to play, 9-9. Sophomore Kaitlyn Carter added the insurance goal in the 51st minute. Junior Allison Tumulty registered back-to-back goals before Carter closed out the rally with her fourth goal of the night with 2:20 on the clock. The Golden Lions snuck in one final goal just before the buzzer as the Panthers prevailed, 14-11.

"In the first half we didn't play like the #1 ranked team," Head Coach Joe Spallina stated. "We made some adjustments at half-time and played the second half more they way we are accustomed to."

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2009-04-23