March 29, 2003

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Both Lafayette and American had March 29 circled on their calendars since the Patriot League released its preseason rankings in late February. The Leopards, the perennial conference favorite, garnered six first place votes and bested American by the slimmest of margins in the poll.

Both the Leopards and the Eagles have started off the season on opposite ends of the spectrum. American came into the game boasting a 7-2 record, including a perfect 3-0 in the Patriot League. On the other side, the Leopards have struggled to put things together in the face of a nationally ranked non-conference schedule as evidence by their 1-9 record.

Despite the early season records Lafayette played its most complete lacrosse to date and pulled through with a thrilling 12-11 come from behind victory over American at the wind and rain swept turf at Rappolt Field, sending a message to the entire Patriot League that the three-time defending conference champions are alive and well.

The Eagles tested Lafayette early, jumping out to a 3-1 lead at the 16:18 mark after Rebecca Copeland broke a 1-1 tie with a pair of goals assisted by Katy Zaweski and Moriah Linnell respectively.

The Leopards answered quickly, something they have not been able to do all season, and knotted the score at 3-3 when Kim Maron and Katie Layng tallied back-to-back scores. Maron's goal came just 12 seconds after Copeland put American up 3-1.

American's Gina Riitano and Lafayette's Maron traded goals before the Eagles scored four straight in a three-minute span for an 8-4 lead.

Layng struck again for Lafayette, this time with just 57 ticks on the clock before halftime, thwarting the American momentum going into intermission. The sophomore attacker has been the Leopards offensive sparkplug off the bench all season, and she had a career day in the first half alone, single handedly keeping Lafayette afloat against the aggressive American attack. Layng scored two of the Leopards first three goals, both unassisted, picked up an assist on the team's fourth goal of the game, and completed the hat trick just before the half.

American struck first in the second half, upping the lead to 9-5 before Lafayette turned into the menace it has been in the Patriot League over the past decade. Despite trailing, the Leopards remained patient on both ends of the field and slowly strangled the Eagles attack over the final 20-plus minutes, and their own offense came alive.

Fallon Cunningham took a Jennifer Stone pass and beat American netminder Kathleen Finnegan to start the rally at 23:51. Stone, Lafayette's leading point producer, was stifled for much of the opening half, but she would be heard from down the stretch. She netted her 20th goal of the season only 51 seconds after Cunningham's score to cut the American lead to 9-7.

With the momentum swinging in the Leopards favor and the vocal crowd, who withstood all Mother Nature could muster, in frenzy Lafayette upped its pressure against the Eagles freshman goaltender.

With heavy pressure in front of the American net, Lafayette junior attacker Erin Gallagher fended off three Eagles' defenders and netted a goal that will certainly go down as the stuff of legend. With her back to the goal, Gallagher corralled a loose ball in front of the net, fought off contact, and slung the ball over her right shoulder and past a stunned Finnegan to make the score 9-8.

It took only one shot, one score, but with that the Lafayette confidence soared and more importantly the team knew that today was the turning point of the season.

Minutes later Stone scooped up a ground ball at midfield and sprinted by the entire American defense to tie the score with 14:21 left.

American would answer and retake the lead only nine seconds later when Nadia Harmsen connected on her third goal of the game, but the Leopards momentum proved too much.

Lafayette's strong non-conference schedule was paying dividends, as the Leopards had a full tank down the stretch. Gallagher and Stone, who are slowly becoming the Patriot League's offensive dynamic duo, gave Lafayette the lead again after back-to-back goals.

American would not go away quietly, and the Eagles' Rebecca Copeland posted the game-tying tally with 8:32 remaining.

With the Leopards in control of possession late in the game it was Cunningham that stepped up for her second of the game at 1:36 and a 12-11 victory.

Lafayette is alive and well and once again in the hunt for the coveted Patriot League Trophy. The Leopards got solid contributions from their usual suspects, but more importantly from a supporting cast that made the difference today.

Layng's career-high three goals and one assist, and Cunningham's pair of scores were just what Lafayette needed. Rock solid freshman goaltender Tracey Williams stopped 13 shots and recorded double-digit saves for the ninth time in 11 career starts.

The Leopards host Atlantic-10 foe LaSalle on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. before stepping back into the Patriot League against Colgate one week from today.