March 25, 2014

(4-7) 1 2 Final Lafayette 5 7 12 CCSU 5 2 7 Box Score | Box Score (PDF) (2-6)

New Britain, Conn. - A five-goal spurt midway through the second half pushed the Leopards to a 12-7 win over Central Connecticut on Tuesday. Lafayette trailed 6-5 before rattling off five straight to take command of the game.

The Leopards (4-7) were led offensively by Laura Kleiber's four goals and two assists. Freshman Kirsten Wilhelmsen scored a hat trick, while Amanda Case and Charlotte Avallone each chipped in a pair of goals for the Maroon and White. Meghan Curtin made five saves in the win.

CCSU's Falynn McCartney opened the scoring at the 28:52 mark of the first half, but Kleiber answered for the Leopards four minutes later with her 26^th goal of the season. The Blue regained the lead with 16 and a half minutes left. Case netted her 13^th goal with 11 minutes left to tie the game at two.

Kleiber gave Lafayette its first lead of the game, 3-2 with 6:37 to play. CCSU countered 13 seconds later to knot the game at three. Ana White and Wilhelmsen scored back-to-back goals as the Leopards opened a 5-3 advantage. The Blue Devils closed the half with a pair of goals to tie the game at five at the intermission.

Central Connecticut continued its run to start the second half, taking a 6-5 lead three and a half minutes into the period. Avallone answered for the Leopards, tying the game with 25 minutes to play. Lafayette got on the board at the 19 minute mark when Wilhelmsen took a feed from Kleiber and beat the CCSU goalie to give Lafayette a 7-6 edge.

The Leopards pushed their spurt to five straight, as Avallone scored her second of the game, followed by back-to-back free position goals from Case and Kleiber to open a 10-6 lead. Wilhelmsen and Kleiber added insurance goals in the final five minutes as Lafayette walked away with a 12-7 victory.

The Maroon and White return to action Saturday when they host Boston University in a Patriot League contest.