SCRANTON, Pa. - Rowan University put the clamps on The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team in non-conference action Thursday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

The Profs jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the opening 18 minutes of play, led 9-1 at intermission, and rolled to a 15-2 victory. With the win, Rowan improved to 7-7 on the season, while the Royals fell to 7-6.

Senior attacker Lauren Crennan (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) and sophomore attacker Alli Dickey (Stevensville, Md./Kent Island) led the Profs with three goals and an assist apiece and senior midfielder Kelly Angstadt (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) finished with two goals and three assists.

Rowan, which held a 30-18 advantage in shots and a 12-8 edge in draw controls, also received two goals apiece from senior midfielder Carly Welsh (Allenwood, N.J./Wall), junior attacker Tori Hart (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), and sophomore attacker Lauren Yee (Mendham, N.J./Mendham).

Scranton, now 7-6, finally broke through on a goal by sophomore midfielder Kristin Pickell (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) on a play set up by senior Diana Rocklein (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip) at the 17:55 mark of the first half. The Royals' other goal was scored by sophomore Katie Slade (Buckingham, Pa./Central Bucks East), who converted a free position shot at the 39:23 mark of the second half.

Welsh and Dickey scored two goals apiece in the opening five minutes and Crennan, Angstadt, and Yee followed with one each during a 12-minute stretch as the Profs took firm command of the game. Defensively, Rowan contested a majority of Scranton's shot attempts and pressured the Royals into turning the ball over 24 times.

Scranton's two goals was its lowest output of the season and its fewest since scoring two against Messiah on March 31, 2007, in Grantham, Pennsylvania.

Senior goalie Alicia Mannino (Richboro, Pa./Conwell-Egan Catholic) made a game-high eight saves while Scranton junior Cassie Murphy (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) stopped seven shots. In addition, Slade was credited with three of Scranton's 10 caused turnovers.

The Royals will close out the regular season this Saturday, April 25, in a key Landmark Conference game against Goucher College at 1:00 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field. The winner will lock up the number three seed in the upcoming Landmark Conference tournament and face the loser of Catholic University-Drew University next Wednesday, April 29. The loser of the Scranton-Goucher game takes on the winner of Catholic-Drew in the other semifinal game.

Prior to the start of Saturday's game, Royal seniors Katie Cordier (Skillman, N.J./Montgomery), Madelyn Sminkey (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), Erin Quinn (Baltimore, Md./The Institute of Notre Dame), and Rocklein will be honored.

2009-04-23