HAMILTON, N.Y. (3/22/08) – For the first time in the short history of its program, the Navy women's lacrosse team lost a game, 19-10, to Colgate on Saturday, Mar. 22, at Tyler's Field. With the win, the Raiders remain undefeated in Patriot League play at 2-0, while the Mids drop to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

The Raiders' offense was paced by sophomore Meghan Lawler (Liverpool, N.Y.), who netted a career-high five goals. Senior tri-captain Jessica Van der Meulen (Liverpool, N.Y.) added three goals and two assists, while juniors Ashley Didio (Syracuse, N.Y.) and Molly Carroll (Swarthmore, Pa.) netted three goals each. Senior Lindsay Pittard (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and sophomore Brie Moran (Little Silver, N.J.) both scored two goals, and freshman Colleen Bubnack (Syracuse, N.Y.) contributed three helpers.

Navy got three goals from both Meg Decker and Erin Rawlick. Sarah Bushong, Amanda Towey, Katrina Nietsch, and Brittany Amerau all netted one goal each, and Amy Ruttum added an assist.

The teams traded goals for the first 12 minutes of the game before the Raiders went on a four-goal run to break open a 7-3 lead with 11:44 left in the opening half. However, Navy ended the opening session on a 3-0 run to make it a 7-6 Colgate edge heading into the break.

The second half was all Raiders as the home team netted five straight goals over the first 7:18 of the period before Navy responded with three consecutive goals of its own to make the score 12-9 with 15:34 left. But Colgate rebuilt its large lead with another three goals, including two straight by Carroll, to go up 15-9 with 7:46 remaining. The Mids broke up the run with a goal by Rawlick before the Raiders added another four goals to make it a 19-10 final.

Colgate junior goalkeeper Sara Drexler (Pottstown, Pa.) made nine saves in the win, while Navy's Natalie Blandon finished with 10 stops. The Raiders earned a 38-27 advantage on shots, including 22-10 in the second half. Navy had the edge on groundballs, 16-14, but Colgate posted a 19-12 advantage on draws.

Colgate continues Patriot League play at Lafayette on Friday, Mar. 28, starting at 7:00 p.m. The Raiders' next home game is on Sunday, Mar. 30, when they host Oregon in a non-conference tilt beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Box Score

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HAMILTON, N.Y. -- The Colgate women's lacrosse team outscored Navy, 12-4, in the second half to hand the Mids their first loss as an NCAA Division I member, 19-10, on Saturday afternoon. The Mids, which opened the season with six straight wins, fall to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in Patriot League play, while Colgate improves to 4-6 and 2-0.

The two teams alternated goals in the first eight minutes as Sarah Bushong, Meg Decker and Erin Rawlick all scored goals to help Navy to a 3-3 tie moments into the contest. However, Colgate scored the game's next four goals over a 10-minute span to grab a 7-3 lead with 11:44 to play.

Navy would score the game's next three goals, including two by Decker and one by Katrina Nietsch, both freshmen, to cut the halftime lead to 7-6.

The Raiders would blow the game open in the first seven-plus minutes of the second half, tallying the first five goals of the half for a 12-6 cushion. Navy would cut the lead to 12-9 on three straight goals, the last coming by leading scorer Erin Rawlick with 15:34 to play.

But Colgate would end the game scoring seven of the last eight goals of the contest, including three in the last 2:09 for a 19-10 decision.

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2008-03-22