GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone College women's lacrosse team dropped its season opener to Davidson College (NCAA Division I) 16-11 on Wednesday afternoon at Saints Field. The Wildcats stand at 1-0 with their win against the Lady Saints (0-1).

Limestone outscored Davidson 10-7 in the second half, but Davidson had a 9-1 advantage in the second. The Lady Saints outshot the Wildcats 36-28 and had a 15-14 edge on draw controls. Davidson scooped up 17 ground balls while Limestone had 11.

Marissa Pesce (West Babylon, N.Y.) led Limestone with three goals. Summer Ferraro (East Setauket, N.Y.), Lauryn Wise (Pasadena, Md.), and Melissa Howard (Ferndale, Md.) each scored twice. Katie Ilott (Whitbey, Ontario, Canada) and Terri George (Jordan, N.Y.) also tallied goals in the effort. Kelly Lickert (Penn Yan, N.Y.) had two assists, while Ferraro, Ilott, and Wise recorded one.

Lady Saint defender Erin Growney (Rochester, N.Y.) had three draw controls and four caused turnovers. Goalkeeper Erin Cavanaugh posted 10 saves.

Davidson's Jen Crawford (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) had a game-high five goals. Haley Cook (Darien, Conn.) and Emily Diefendorf (Laurel Hollow, N.Y.) scored three goals each. Cook also led her team with two assists and four draw controls. The Wildcats' Becky Horton (Walnut Creek, Calif.) had three draw controls. Goalkeeper Laura Johnson (Baldwin, Md.) had 15 saves.

Limestone opens Conference Carolinas play against St. Andrews on Saturday, February 16 in Laurinburg, N.C., at 2:00 p.m. The Wildcats host Loyola (Md.) on February 17 at 1:00 p.m. in Davidson, N.C.

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GAFFNEY, S.C. -- Sophomore Jen Crawford scored three of her game-high five goals in the first half, when Davidson grabbed a 9-1 lead on its way to a 16-11 season-opening win at Limestone in women's lacrosse action on Wednesday afternoon.

Davidson started 1-0 for the third time in the past four years and improved its school-record winning streak by earning its sixth straight, dating back to last season. The Wildcats finished the 2007 campaign with five straight wins. Limestone fell to 0-1.

"What a great way to start the season and to carry the momentum from last year's solid finish into this season," said head coach Betsy Economou. "I was very pleased with our transition game today and very impressed with our team's composure when Limestone started to come back late in the second half. We never lost our focus and finished out the game strong."

Crawford started her sophomore campaign much like she ended her freshman campaign, scoring five goals to lead five Wildcats who scored multiple goals.

Senior Emily Diefendorf and sophomore Haley Cook followed Crawford with three goals apiece, while Cook added two assists and led the team with four draw controls.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind goals from senior Emily Palmer and Jen Crawford.

After Limestone cut the lead to one at 2-1 on a goal by Marissa Pesce, Davidson went on to score the next eight goals to take a commanding 10-1 lead in the early going of the second period. Three different 'Cats scored during the eight-goal burst, including Callie Seymour at the 15:12 mark of the first period.

The Lady Saints did cut the lead to five at 12-7 on a Summer Ferraro goal with 8:16 left in the game. Ferraro and Lauryn Wise scored twice during the Saints' run.

Davidson finished off the scoring with goals from Horton, Crawford and Diefendorf to close out the win, 16-11.

Senior Laura Johnson played a solid game in goal, registering a game-high 15 saves, nine of them in the second period when Limestone made a charge.

Pesce led the Saints with three goals, while three other players scored two goals apiece.

Limestone did get off 36 shots on goal to Davidson's 28, but the Wildcats won the battle of ground balls, 17-11.

Davidson opens its home schedule with a 1:00 p.m. contest against Loyola (Md.) on Sunday, February 17 at Richardson Stadium.

2008-02-13