COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Senior attacker Kate Fitzgerald set a school record for goals in a postseason game to lead the Colorado College women's lacrosse team to a 15-9 victory over Claremont Colleges in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday night at CC's Washburn Field.

The Tigers (10-5) will face Nazareth College (13-2) at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Salisbury, Md. The winner will face either Washington & Lee University (15-3) or host Salisbury University (18-1) for the right to advance to the national semifinals on May 19 at William Smith College in Geneva, NY.

Fitzgerald scored four of her game-high six goals during a 7-1 run that helped the Tigers turn a 6-5 deficit into a 12-7 lead. She tied the game with 29 seconds remaining in the first half, then struck again 3:14 into the second frame. Two more scores in a span of just under two minutes gave CC a five-goal lead with 7:34 remaining in the game, and she eclipsed Cassie Abel's record of five with 2:30 to play.

"She comes up big in big games," head coach Susan Stuart said. "I wish it hadn't been that close at the half, but that's what happens in the tournament. Everyone steps up and they came to play. We knew that they weren't going to roll over for us. They're a good team."

Senior midfielder Robin Harvey struck for four goals and added an assist, while freshman midfielder Kristin Rider celebrated her birthday with a pair of scores. Freshman attacker Marissa McGrann set up CC's first three goals of the second half.

Sophomore midfielder Courtney Cronin scored three of her team-leading five goals in the first half, including two during a 3-0 run which gave the Athenas (15-2) their first and only lead at 6-5 with 1:15 to play in the opening half.

But from that point on, it was nearly all Colorado College. The Tigers outshot CMS 22-5 in the second half to finish with an 18-16 advantage. CC also finished the game with a 30-20 edge in ground balls, which included a 23-11 difference during the second 30 minutes, and won 15 of 25 draw controls.

"It really came down to the draw," Cronin said. "It's a 50-50 ball and they won it more and won the game. We knew how to play against their weaknesses, and we worked that, especially in the first half. We thought that we were going to win. Unfortunately, a few things didn't go our way. We'll get them next year."

Sophomore Jess Van Doren finished with 11 saves to earn the victory in goal. Senior midfielder Hannah Murtaugh paced the Tiger defense with six caused turnovers and five ground balls. Senior Kristen Huff made seven of her 12 saves in the second half while under constant pressure from the Tigers.

"Colorado College has always been the team to beat in the West," said first-year head coach Sarah Queener. "We don't feel like we gave them that much of a contest last Saturday, so we were looking for a do over. I think they proved to themselves and to me that they were able to play on Colorado College's level."

Goals by Period       1  2  Total
---------------------------------
Claremont Colleges..  6  3 -    9
Colorado College....  6  9 -   15
 
Claremont Colleges SCORING:
GOALS: Courtney Cronin 5; Mallory Singer 2; Devon Scott 1; Colbi Brawner 1.
ASSISTS: None.
 
Colorado College SCORING:
GOALS: Kate Fitzgerald 6; Robin Harvey 4; Kristin Rider 2; Kerry
       O'Shaughnessy 1; Rachel Walker 1; Alexa Dougherty 1.
ASSISTS: Marisa McGrann 3; Robin Harvey 1; Kerry O'Shaughnessy 1.
 
Shots by period       1  2  Total
---------------------------------
Claremont Colleges.. 16  5 -   21
Colorado College.... 18 22 -   40
 
Saves by period       1  2  Total
---------------------------------
Claremont Colleges..  5  7 -   12
Colorado College....  9  2 -   11
 
Ground balls by prd   1  2  Total
---------------------------------
Claremont Colleges..  9 11 -   20
Colorado College....  7 23 -   30
 
Clears by period       1     2    Total
---------------------------------------
Claremont Colleges..  9-11 10-13 - 19-24
Colorado College....  5-12 10-13 - 15-25

2007-05-10