April 7, 2007
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - Playing its final home game of the regular season, the Lafayette women's lacrosse team dropped a 19-8 Patriot League decision to visiting American on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Rappolt Field.
Prior to the draw, Lafayette paid tribute to its only senior on the roster this year, defender Morgan Schneller.
Sophomore attack Casey Sharkey registered her first hat trick of the season, while midfielder Maria Drehwing continued her standout rookie season with a pair of goals for the Leopards (0-12, 0-3). American's (6-6, 2-1) Lauren Aksionoff led all players with six goals and one assist.
Junior attack Maddy Booth drew first blood for the Leopards just 2:20 into the action. However, four straight American goals ensued as Lafayette fell behind 4-1 with less than seven minutes off the clock. Booth then connected with sophomore midfielder Kristin Ruminski at the 21:12 mark, ending the Eagles' hot streak. After American's Aksionoff tallied her third of the day, sophomore Emily Archibald found Sharkey for the score with 20:52 left in the half, pulling Lafayette within 5-3. It was the closest the Leopards would get from that point on.
Despite Sharkey scoring again before the break (2:22) and Archibald finding the net on a wild outside shot with 1:48 on the clock, American entered intermission with an 11-6 lead and never looked back.
The Eagles tallied two more to take a 13-6 lead with 25:51 remaining in the game, while Drehwing found the net on a pass from freshman Courtney Bryan nearly 30 seconds later. American went on to score six of the final seven goals on the day en route to its second Patriot League win.
Lafayette played the game without starting goalkeeper Christine McDougal, who was out with a finger injury, as fellow freshman Emily Bjork got her first collegiate start. Bjork registered nine saves and played all 60 minutes. American keeper Kristine Vida turned away 11 shots on the afternoon.
Schneller, along with freshmen Lauren Harkins and Tara Mayo, led the team with three ground balls. Booth added a team-high three draw controls, while Ruminski, Mayo and Drehwing had two apiece.
The Leopards head out on the road for their final three regular season games, beginning with a trip to Colgate next Saturday at noon.
