STORRS, Conn. (March 30, 2008) - Whitney Michele (East Rochester, N.Y.) scored a career-high five goals as the University of Connecticut women's lacrosse team earned its first win of the season by defeating UC Davis, 16-9, Sunday afternoon at the George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex. The Huskies are now 1-9 on the season, while the Aggies drop to 4-7 overall.

Katy Ryan (Hamburg, N.Y.) and Robyn Pastuch (Merrick, N.Y.) each added hat tricks, while goalkeeper Jenna Moulton (East Rochester, N.Y.) earned 15 saves and allowed a season-low nine goals.

Ryan started off scoring less than three minutes into the game, but UC Davis quickly answered with back-to-back tallies to go up 2-1 at the 23:30 mark for its only lead of the game. This led to a 6-1 run for the Huskies over the next 10:31 of play to quickly stretch the lead to 7-3 in UConn's favor. Michele scored three goals in this stretch, all unassisted, and added an assist on one of Ryan's tallies. Laura Eichert (Laurel, Md.) also helped fuel the run, breaking the 3-3 tie and scoring what would stand as the game-winner with 18:48 left in the half.

The Aggies came out of the intermission trailing 9-5, but scored 1:01 into the period to cut the lead to three. Pastuch answered with her first goal of the day :30 later to bring the lead back to four, a gap UC Davis would not close for the rest of the game. The goal also started a 5-1 scoring spree for the Huskies that featured all three of Pastuch's tallies, in addition to goals by Jillian Cerar (Massapequa Park, N.Y.), via Katie Devaney (Fayetteville, N.Y.), and one more from Ryan assisted by Michele.

Molly O'Brien (Cary, N.C.) added the final UConn tally on a free position shot for her first career goal to bring the score to 16-8 with 5:26 to play. The Aggies added one more down the stretch, but UConn held on to its largest margin of victory (seven) since Apr. 17, 2007 when it defeated New Hampshire 17-9.

The Huskies held a 16-10 advantage in draw controls and a 32-28 margin in shots. UC Davis was led by Katie McMahon's five goals.

UConn returns to action Wednesday, April 2, against Fairfield at the Sherman Complex. Game time is 3:00 p.m. for the clash between in-state rivals.

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STORRS, Conn. -- Junior midfielder Whitney Michele scored a career-high five goals and added two assists to lead Connecticut to a 16-9 win over UC Davis in a non-conference women's lacrosse game at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex Sunday.

The Aggies fall to 4-7 overall. The Huskies, whose schedule has thus far featured five nationally ranked opponents, pick up their first win of the year to move to 1-9.

Senior attacker Katie McMahon led UC Davis with five goals, while freshman Christina Corsa added two. Sophomore Olivia Jarem picked up a goal and assist.

For UConn, Michele added five draw controls to her team-leading offensive contributions. Katy Ryan chipped in three goals and an assist, while scooping up four draw controls and two ground balls.

UC Davis took its only lead in the seventh minute of play as Jarem's assist to McMahon put the Aggies ahead by a 2-1 margin. Less than 20 seconds later, Michele scored the first of back-to-back goals to send the lead back to the Huskies. McMahon equalized the game at 3-3 in the 10th minute, but UConn responded with four straight scores. The Huskies led 9- 5 at the halftime break.

McMahon had two goals and Corsa hit an eight-meter attempt in the second half, but the Aggies never approached closer than a three-goal deficit the rest of the way.

UConn sophomore Jenna Moulton posted 15 saves against the 28 Aggie shooting attempts, including 11 stops before the break. UC Davis senior Hilary Harkins tabulated 11 saves on the opposite end of the field.

The Aggies return home to host California for a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game on Saturday. The game, previously scheduled for 7:00 p.m., then 1:00 p.m., has been finalized to 4:00 p.m.

2008-03-30