Aug. 28, 2016
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - For the first time in the history of the Lafayette women's soccer program, the Leopards are unbeaten through their first four contests after notching a 3-1 win over LIU-Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon on Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium.
The victory moves Lafayette's overall record to 3-0-1 to start the year as the offense has come to life with nine goals in the first four games. Senior Melissa Lynskey was the story on Sunday afternoon, coming through with the second hat trick of her career and just the third hat trick for the program since 2002.
"I think the team was disappointed with our overall performance going into the locker room," Lynskey said. "The whole team improved their play out of the break and the goals are representative of a total team effort."
Classmate Kaelin King and sophomores Lauren Johnson and Katie Brannigan provided the helpers on Lynskey's three markers, all coming in the second half of action. King and Johnson each notched two assists, while Brannigan added one on the opening tally.
"It was a good win," head coach Mick Statham said. "I thought we started a little bit slow, but we were much better after our second goal in the last 20 minutes. We'll take wins however we can get them."
Lafayette had the better of the chances in the opening 45 minutes as opportunities in the 12th and 33rd minutes threatened at an opening goal. Following a steal at midfield from senior Elizabeth Scoda in the 12th minute, she made a run down the right side and left a ball for Brannigan. Brannigan then played a through-ball to Scotti, setting her up in a 1v1 situation with the LIU keeper at a sharp angle on the right side of goal. Instead of taking the shot, Scotti cut back a pass into the middle of the box for an open Lynskey, whose shot was played just high over the bar.
About 20 minutes later, sophomore Rebekka Arnthorsdottir played a swinging cross in from the right side that the wind pushed all the way in on goal and off the crossbar for a corner. The corner service from senior Monica Weiss forced a leaping save to keep the game scoreless into the break.
The first good opportunity for the visitors came early out of the locker room as a bouncing ball in the box fell to the feet of LIU's Josie Watson. Watson's close shot off the outside of her foot was saved by a diving Danielle Sedillo, the senior keeper for the Leopards, for her first stop of the game.
The save shifted momentum back on Lafayette's side as the first score came just six minutes later. Following a steal in the midfield, King worked down the right side and set up a cross for Brannigan in the top right corner of the 18-yard box. Brannigan found Lynskey on the opposite side, who settled and sent a beautiful chip up over the keeper and into the right corner.
"I just wanted to make sure I got the shot off before the opportunity was gone," Lynskey said. "I'm glad I was able to get it off and it went in."
The opposition didn't take long to get right back in on the action though, as a strong shot from Jenn Peters six minutes later rang off the crossbar from about 25 yards out. Then came the equalizer in the 62nd minute off a set play on a corner.
Peters and Brooke Logel played an excellent give-and-go on a short corner to set up Logel with a chance high outside the box on the left side. Logel sent a perfectly-designed curling shot into the far corner and over a diving Sedillo to tie the game at one.
However, Lafayette stormed back as its next marker gave it a lead it would not surrender. Drawing a foul in the 71st minute near the corner flag on the left side, sophomore Lauren Johnson served a well-placed free kick toward Lynskey at the near post, who finished for the go-ahead score.
"The most important person on the free kick is the one taking it," Lynskey added. "I wouldn't have gotten the goal if Lauren's cross wasn't correct, so I won't take too much credit for that. I'm just glad I was able to put it away."
Lynskey's third tally came in the 77th minute, again from Johnson with additional help from King. King made a run down the left side this time and sent Johnson toward the end line in the box. Johnson worked a cutback cross to a sliding Lynskey at the near post for an insurance goal with about 13 minutes to play and the Leopards went on to close out a 3-1 victory.
Sedillo was solid in the back with two saves on the afternoon, while LIU's Aline Allmann made five saves on the day. Shots were 15-7 in favor of the Maroon and White and Lafayette held a 7-1 advantage in corners, although LIU scored on its lone opportunity.
Lafayette will look to continue its winning ways on Sunday, hosting NJIT in a 1 p.m. tilt.
