LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The No. 6 Lock Haven University lacrosse team (5-2) got a huge win tonight as the Lady Eagles downed visiting No. 7 Gannon University (6-2) 15-8.

The win was a critical one for the Haven, as it came against a regional opponent in a battle of two of the nation's top teams.

The Lady Eagles looked like a team on a mission as their explosive offense went right to work scoring the game's first seven goals.

Lock Haven combined their stellar play on attack with an exceptionally solid defensive effort.

The Haven's defense completely shutdown Gannon for almost the entire first half as the Lady Knights didn't score until there was less than a minute to play in the opening 30 minutes.

Sophomore Leigh Titus's (Towaco, N.J./Montville) led LHU's early offensive explosion, scoring just four minutes in. Her goal sparked a Haven string of tallies, as they eventually led 8-2 after the first half.

Gannon wouldn't go away easy and looked to turn the tables early in the second, scoring the first three goals of the second half.

LHU would respond with timely goals created by a very patient attack and stingy defense.

Junior midfield Jessica Blickenstaff (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) led all scorers with a five-goal night. She also dished out two assists and now has a team-high 42 points on the year with 32 goals and 10 assists.

Titus finished with three goals leading a trio of players who netted the hat trick. Freshman Kari Sielski (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) recorded the second hat trick of her career along with Rachael Williams (Gettysburg, Pa./Catoctin), who also found the back of the net three times.

Sophomore Kira Nuttall (Towson, Md./Loch Raven) had a fabulous night between the pipes making 12 saves. She also forced the Gannon attack to make several turnovers and grabbed three groundballs.

The defensive effort was solid all around.

Caitlyn Watts (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was all over the place in the midfield. She had one goal and an assist.

Rookies Jamie Uzialko (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) and Katie McConnell (Cinnaminson, N.J./Holy Cross) both turned solid games in the midfield for LHU.

The trio Krystalle Neighbor (Dunellen, N.J./Rutgers Prepartory ) Kathleen Zichelli (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) and Christina Fried (Pine Brook, N.J./Montville) shutdown Gannon on defense

The Lady Eagles are back in action Wednesday, April 2 when they travel to Shippensburg University for a 4:00 p.m. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) clash.

* * * *

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Gannon and Lock Haven played to an even draw in the final 31 minutes and 55 seconds. Unfortunately, it was all Lock Haven in the first 29 minutes and five seconds.

Lock Haven scored the first seven goals of the match and defeated Gannon 15-8 in a battle of nationally-ranked women's lacrosse teams Monday night at Lock Haven's Charlotte Smith Field. The Bald Eagles are ranked sixth in NCAA Division II while the Lady Knights are tabbed seventh.

The home squad shut out Gannon 7-0 during the first 29 minutes. The Lady Knights were unable to dent the scoreboard until Mary Eshenour's (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo) goal with 55 seconds left in the half. The two teams then traded a pair of goals in the final 26 seconds of the half as the Bald Eagles took an 8-2 lead into the intermission.

Gannon tried to rally with the first three scores of the second half. Antonia Cianfrocco's (Chittenango, N.Y./Chittenango) tally 4:19 into the half cut the deficit to 8-5. However, Lock Haven immediately responded with three consecutive goals and six of the next seven to seal the deal. The Bald Eagles out-scored the Lady Knights 7-6 in the final 30 minutes.

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2008-04-01