WASHINGTON: American University women's lacrosse enters its final regular season Patriot League match-up on a three game win streak after defeating Longwood University 20-9 on Wednesday afternoon at the William I Jacobs Recreational Complex.

American used a 9-1 run in the opening 15 minutes of the second half to secure the lead and run away with the win. Junior defender Brittany Finnegan (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) started the scoring off for the Eagles using quick transition from the defensive zone and wasting no time going to goal. Less than a minute later, Lauren Aksionoff (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) was notching her second goal of the day to give American the 10-5 advantage with 27:51 remaining on the clock. Cathleen Strain answered for Longwood with a goal of her own, but Aksionoff, assisted by Anne Marie Person (Rosemont, Pa./The Episcopal Academy), was at it again, starting what would eventually develop into a 7-0 run for the Eagles.

In the run, Aksionoff chipped in her fourth and final goal of the win, senior captain Caithlin Gorman (Springfield, Va./Bishop Ireton) added two goals of her own in her final game on the turf at Jacobs, sophomore Stefanie D'Andrea (Carversville, Pa./S.H. Calhoun) tallied her first goal of the season, with Lisa Schaaf (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley High School) and Gina Ibello (Cockeysville, Md./Maryvale Prep) finishing it off before the Lancers' Strain struck for the third time.

Leading 17-7 with 7:21 left in the game, American University did not back off. Jackie Lane (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge), the team's leading scorer, registered two of her five goals in the dwindling minutes and freshman Maeve Koch (Philadelphia, Pa./Springside School) scored her first career goal as an Eagle, setting a new season high for American University women's lacrosse for goals in a game with 20.

Lane finished with a game-high six points, coming off five goals and one assist, with Aksionoff combining four goals with an assist for five points. Ibello chipped in three goals, with Person and Kira Sonberg (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) also getting in on the action.

AU outshot the Lancers 33-26, with goalkeeper Kristine Vida (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) making 11 saves on the day.

American University women's lacrosse improves to 8-6 on the season and travels to Lehigh on Saturday evening for its final regular season Patriot League match up. American is currently second in the conference and has already clinched a spot in the 2007 championship tournament.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Longwood University women's lacrosse was outscored 12-4 in the final thirty minutes to fall to American 20-9 Wednesday afternoon in Washington, D.C.. The Lancers (3-11) were led by Cathleen Strain's/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) five points while American's (8-6) Lauren Aksionoff recorded five points of her own on four goals and one assist. Longwood will return to action on Sunday, April 22, when they travel to Durham, N.C. for an 1 p.m. match up with the #4 Blue Devils.

Strain got the Lancers on the board on a free position shot at the 22:47 mark for the early 1-0 lead. The Eagles then answered back and went on five goal run in the next nine minutes to build a 5-1 lead with 10:40 remaining in the half. Led by Shannon Strain's/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) two goals, Longwood put a three goal run of its own together to cut the deficit to one goal with 9:52 to go before the break. Page Farmer/Richmond (St. Catherine's) also recorded a goal in the three goal run by the Lancers. American however closed the half strong scoring three of the final four goals of the half to build an 8-5 lead.

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2007-04-18