WILLIAMSBURG, VA. (March 28, 2008) In a game where momentum was everything, the College of William and Marys womens lacrosse team was able to capture more of it for longer in defeating the University of California-Berkeley, 16-10, this afternoon at Albert/Daly Field.

In an afternoon that saw the Tribe (4-6) dominate Cal (4-5) in nearly every statistical area, including draws (16-12), shots (41-26) and free position shots (15-4), there was no shortage of standouts for the squad. On the attacking end, senior midfielder and emerging All-American candidate Jaime Sellers (Kennebunk, Maine) and junior attacker Clare Dennis (Catonsville, Md.) had a hand in 11 of the teams 16 scores, as each scored four goals, while Dennis handed out a pair of helpers and Sellers contributed one. When it came to the midfield, budding freshman phenom Grace Golden (Manhasset, N.Y.) was simply everywhere, as she also contributed four goals, had a team-high four caused turnovers and was tied for the team lead with fellow freshman Emma Starnes (Richmond, Va.) with four ground balls. Playing behind a solid defensive effort led by senior Ashley Bolton (Narbeth, Pa.), freshman net minder Emily Geary (Wayne, Pa.) had moments of sheer greatness in recording 10 saves in the win. The win also put a solid ending on a week of action for the College that started with the squad posting a 9-7 upset of No. 10 Stanford on Tuesday.

Playing in front of a spirited crowd that was enjoying a beautiful spring afternoon, the Tribe did not come out of the gates hitting on all cylinders. In fact, through the first five minutes of play, it seemed the Golden Bears were poised to take its second consecutive win in the series, as Cal jumped out to a 3-0 lead by scoring off a Tribe turnover on its first possession, then corralling the next two draws. Cal-Berkeleys Danni Zuralov tallied the games first two goals and Alyse Kennedy capped the opening run by finishing a feed from Samantha Price at 27:07.

At this point, Tribe second-year head coach Christine Halfpenny called an early timeout and regrouped her charges. The three minutes were used wisely, as the remainder of the half was simply dominated by the College. Dennis started what would become an 8-1 run by turning a Cal turnover into a slick scoring run that she finished in the upper 90 (24:35). The Bears claimed the next draw and turned it into an excellent scoring chance, but Geary was up to the challenge and cradled the attempt and triggered the transition attack. Dennis eventually claimed the ball in the attacking third and used her speed to draw her defender wide of the crease, while Golden cut to the open space created in front of the net and hammered home the ensuing feed from Dennis to put the score at 3-2 with 23:38 remaining. From here, Sellers quickly evened the contest, as she won the next draw, carried the ball straight to the cage, drew a foul and finished the free position opportunity in the back of the net less than 15 seconds later (23:19). Freshman attacker Ashley Holofcener (Reisterstown, Md.) came away with the next draw, found Sellers, who immediately attacked the crease and again earned, and finished, a free position attempt to put the Tribe up 4-3 at the 22:30 mark.

At this juncture, it was the Golden Bears turn to take a timeout and, temporarily, it stemmed the onslaught, as the two teams traded possessions over the next four minutes. But, once again, the Tribe was able to take advantage of a Cal miscue, this time a failed clear attempt, and convert it into a scoring chance. On this occasion, it was Dennis who received the ball between the circles and blazed to the cage, finishing with another laser in the high right-hand corner, giving W&M a 5-3 lead. The next seven minutes featured more back and fourth, as both Geary and Cal keeper Allie Shropshire denied a pair of solid scoring chances. But, eventually, the Golden Bears pieced together a transition attack that ended with Zuralow dropping a perfect pass to Chapin Jackson, which Jackson pushed into the net and tightened the game to 5-4 at 11:30. With both teams sensing the crucial momentum was know hanging in the balance, William and Mary freshman Maggie Anderson (Richmond, Va.) scraped out the following draw after a long melee and keyed one of the teams slickest scoring combinations of the season. Anderson started it by carrying the ball wide right of the net, be-fore feeding Holofcener just to the right of the cage, who in turn slid a perfect dart to the opposite side of the crease, which sophomore Mary Zulty (Jarrettsville, Md.) deposited into the open netting. The scintillating score put a charge in the College, as it took advantage of a Cal turnover minutes later and put the transition attack in motion once again. Golden advanced through the midfield, attacked the cage, then put a perfect helper on Andersons stick that immediately was sent to twine, posting the Tribe to a solid 7-4 advantage (10:14).

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2008-03-29