Brooklyn, N.Y. – Sophomore Christie Wienckowski (Newton Square, Pa.) recorded her second hat trick in three games, but it was not enough as the Long Island University women's lacrosse team fell to Quinnipiac, 14-6, on Friday afternoon on LIU Field. The loss dropped the Blackbirds to 2-6 overall and 1-1 in Northeast Conference play.

Qunnipiac (3-4, 1-1 NEC) opened the game with a 5-0 run to take control of the game from the opening draw. Katy Delagi scored just 38 seconds into the contest and Ashley Valentine scored twice during the opening spur to power the Bobcats' quick start.

Wienckowski got LIU on the board midway through the period to cut the deficit to 5-1, but the Bobcats came right back when Janelle Lopez scored her second of the opening stanza and Valentine completed her own hat trick to make it 7-1 at the intermission.

Long Island's offense picked up in the second half after Quinnipiac opened the second period with a goal from Valentine to make it 8-1. The Blackbirds quickly responded with three straight goals to claw back into the game. Freshman Sarah James (Springfield, Pa.) took a pass from sophomore Jenna Schauder (Jackson, N.J.) to open the run. After Schauder scored at the 21:03 mark, Wienckowski converted a free position shot to make it 8-4.

That was as close as the Blackbirds could get however, as the Bobcats scored three unanswered goals before Wienckowski could snap the spurt with a free position goal to make it 11-5 with 6:50 to play. Quinnipiac scored three more consecutive goals, before freshman Sara LaNoir (Queensbury, N.Y.) wrapped up the scoring with an unassisted effort with 2:31 to play.

Freshman Kimberly Bostwick (East Northport, N.Y.) made 10 saves for LIU. The Blackbirds were outshot, 31-28, but held a 21-19 advantage in ground balls and forced 23 turnovers. Senior Xiomara Garcia (Pottstown, Pa.) led the team with four ground balls, three caused turnovers and three draw controls.

The Blackbirds return to action on Sunday, March 30, when they host Villanova in a non-conference tilt on LIU Field at 1:00 p.m.

2008-03-28