April 11, 2002

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette powered past Towson, 9-5, on Thursday in women's lacrosse action at Rappolt Field. As the four Leopard seniors were honored for their final home game, the team improved to 8-5 overall while the Tigers fell to 6-6.

Sophomore Kim Maron scored her 13th goal of the season to give the Leopards a 1-0 advantage three minutes into the contest. Senior co-captain Heather McClelland notched her first of two goals less than five minutes later for a 2-0 Lafayette lead. Towson got on the scoreboard at 16:21 on a Kat Brady goal, assisted by Caitlin Marshall. The Tigers found a rhythm and tallied two more goals in the next three minutes from Brady and Abigail Giancola to take a 3-2 lead.

Lafayette responded as McClelland notched her second goal of the game at 9:38. Less than a minute later, sophomore Erin Gallagher gave the home team a 4-3 lead that would hold until halftime on her 16th goal of the year.

Gallagher took a pass from McClelland to open the second half for a 5-3 lead. Maron scored her second of the game minutes later, and Jennifer Stone found the back of the net at 21:04 for a commanding 7-3 lead over the Tigers. Senior co-captain Stephanie Tinney stretched the Leopards' lead to 8-3 when she converted on a free position opportunity at 17:42. Gallagher finished off the scoring with her third tally of the game at 8:57.

Towson rallied late to score two goals from Kristyn Krastel and Brady, but it wasn't enough as Lafayette held on for the 9-5 win.

Senior goalie Leela Strong recorded 14 saves in goal while Towson's Jessica O'Connell made 19 stops. Lafayette outshot Towson 32-16 and picked up 23 ground balls to the Tigers' 18.

In pregame festivities, Lafayette seniors Emily Hoffman, Heather McClelland, Leela Strong and Stephanie Tinney were honored for their dedication to the women's lacrosse program. The class of 2002 combined for a 42-19 overall record, and a 16-3 mark in the Patriot League.

Gallagher led Lafayette with three goals while McClelland followed with two goals and an assist. Brady led Towson with three goals while Marshall added two assists.

Lafayette (8-5) returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Worcester, Mass. for a league showdown with Holy Cross at 12 p.m.

ScoringFirst Half:Time    Team    Goal                    Assist1-26:51 LC  Kim Maron               Jennifer Stone1-21:05 LC  Heather McClelland      ---1-16:21 TU  Kat Brady               Caitlin Marshall1-14:54 TU  Kat Brady               Caitlin Marshall1-12:47 TU  Abigail Giancola        Free position1- 9:38 LC  McClelland              ---1- 8:43 LC  Erin Gallagher          ---
Second Half:Time    Team    Goal                    Assist2-29:04 LC  Gallagher               McClelland2-26:35 LC  Maron                   ---2-21:04 LC  Stone                   ---2-17:42 LC  Tinney                  Free position2- 7:10 TU  Kristyn Kastel          Free position2- 6:06 TU  Brady                   ---