AMHERST, Mass. - Using a strong second half performance, visiting George Washington defeated the UMass women's lacrosse team 10-7 on Sunday afternoon at McGuirk Stadium in Atlantic 10 action. Katelyn Honeyford was the story of the game for the Colonials as she scored four goals to lead all players, caused seven turnovers and picked up eight groundballs.

UMass was held to just five shots in the second half and outshot 25-to-19 for the game. Junior attack Kathleen Typadis (Medfield, Mass.) led the Minutewomen with two goals and an assist. UMass senior goalkeeper Lauren McCarthy (Derry, N.H.) did her best to keep the Minutewomen in the game making 10 saves and having career highs in both groundballs (7) and caused turnovers (2). Typadis has now scored in 36 consecutive games. Her two goals today move her into a fourth-place tie all-time in career goals (113) at UMass with Cari Nickerson (1977-80).

The Minutewomen (5-7, 0-2 A-10) jumped out to an early lead with a pair of goals in the first three minutes of the game. Freshman attack Stephanie Hopkins (Valley Cottage, N.Y.) scored on a free position attempt and then senior Samantha Sepulveda (Freeport, N.Y.) won the ensuing draw control racing down the field for a goal just 13 seconds later.

George Washington's Meghan Cratty answered with her first goal of the game before UMass responded with goals from Typadis and junior midfielder Kristina Twichell.

The teams traded a pair of goals over the next nine minutes before Laura Wunk and Honeyford scored back-to-back strikes to make the score 5-4 with 6:36 in the first half.

Sophomore attack Julie Pasquantonio (Plainville, Mass.) scored an unassisted goal just over a minute later to push the lead back to two for UMass.

Kristin Karcsh scored the final goal of the first half on a free position shot with 4:10 remaining to make the lead 6-5 UMass at the half. Karcsh entered the game as George Washington's top scorer, but was held to just one goal on the day.

UMass had one final scoring opportunity in the first half. Sophomore Holly Drown (Nashua, N.H.) ripped a shot with five second remaining that was saved by GW keeper Caitlin Garman. Drown was fouled going for the rebound and awarded a free-position shot with one second remaining on the clock. She got off a shot, but Garman was there once again to make the save.

The second half was all GW, however, as the Colonials outshot UMass 14-to-5 and controlled much of the possession late in the half.

Cratty scored her second goal of the game to tie the score at 6-6 just 2:29 into the period. Drown answered with her 26th goal of the season six minutes later to push UMass back on top.

George Washington scored back-to-back goals within a one minute span when Honeyford and Hayley McDonough scored to give the Colonials their first lead of the game at 8-7 with 16:44 to play.

The Colonials then slowed the pace of the game down and managed to run several minutes off the clock. The two teams traded turnovers on clears before GW corralled the ball and scored with just under six minutes remaining to make it a 9-7 game.

UMass regained possession after a GW turnover on the next draw control and was awarded a free position shot with 4:20 to play when Pasquantonio was fouled driving to the cage. As Pasquantonio fired her shot which went past Garman, the officials blew the play dead calling a foul on UMass, negating the shot and turning the ball over to George Washington.

GW successfully cleared the ball before turning the ball over to UMass giving the Minutewomen hope with under three minutes. UMass failed to clear the ball, however, giving the ball back to the Colonials. George Washington ran two minutes off the clock before Honeyford turned the ball over with 28 seconds remaining. Sepulveda scooped up the ball and ran almost the legnth of the field until a UMass turnover gave possession back to GW.

The Colonials cleared the ball with 15 seconds remaining and Cratty sent a long sailing pass to Taylor Donohue who ripped a shot from 10-yards out with one second remaining to give the final score.

UMass returns to action next Sunday, April 15, to host A-10 rival and defending league champion Richmond. The game will be held at McGuirk Stadium with opening draw set for Noon. Admission is free to all.

2007-04-08