Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 11, 2009) – In a game full of lead changes, offensive surges and tireless assaults on goal, the Vassar women's lacrosse team got the deciding goal from sophomore attack Sarah Warner with 9:22 remaining and withstood a furious comeback attempt by visiting Clarkson to precariously hold on for a 15-14 Liberty League victory at chilly Weinberg Field on Saturday afternoon. 

The contest had an up and down ebb and flow, as each team went on unanswered scoring runs in efforts to create a lead that was never secure for either team. The Brewers scored five of the first half's last seven goals to take a 9-6 intermission lead. The Golden Knights opened the second half with five unanswered goals to take an 11-9 lead with 19:18 to play. From that point, the game was tied once, at 11-11 at 14:05, and then the Brewers surged ahead for a 14-11 lead, one of two three goal margins Vassar would hold in the game, with 11:04 to play. Clarkson produced a frenetic final two minutes that left the Golden Knights just barely short of forcing overtime. 

The victory, Vassar's third straight, improves the Brewers to 6-6, 2-4 and completes a weekend sweep of St. Lawrence and Clarkson. Vassar returns to action on Thursday, April 16 hosting Western Connecticut. Clarkson drops to 3-8 and 0-5 in league play and hosts Skidmore next Friday, April 19. 

Warner tallied her fifth goal of the game, which turned out to be the game winner, with a piercing shot past Clarkson goalie Hannah Walters. Her 31st goal of the season didn't provide the Brewers with any measure of comfort, however. Clarkson scored the next two goals, one from senior attack Alyssa Breed with 4:29 to play and one from senior attack Emily Bojarski with 2:28 to play. Bojarski's goal, Clarkson's 14th of the game, came while playing down a player and created a dramatic finish. 

With two minutes remaining, Golden Knights freshman midfielder Saryn Campbell sprinted the length of the field past the Vassar defense and connected with Breed on right side of the goalie cage. Breed fired a shot that sailed just wide of Vassar sophomore goalie Nicole Engelhardt that would have otherwise found the upper right hand corner of the goal. The Golden Knights retained possession of the ball and with a minute remaining, junior midfielder Kimberly Loucks had her shot on goal saved by Engelhardt, who had seven stops in the game. The Brewers then successfully ran of the clock for the final 1:00 of play.

The combination of Warner and sophomore midfielder Allie Morgan combined for nine goals for Vassar. Loucks and Bojarski were equal to the Vassar duo, combing for eight goals and three assists, Loucks sharing game-high honors with five tallies. 

The 29 combined goals took a while to materialize, as neither team scored for the first seven minutes of the game. In total, the contest was tied three times and was tight, largely due to nine saves from Walters who faced 33 Vassar shots. Seven different players had goals for Vassar while five players tallied goals for Clarkson.