Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 17, 2010) – Although the Vassar College women's lacrosse team found itself in an early 3-0 hole against Eastern Connecticut State University, the Brewers battled back to a 6-6 halftime tie and then scored four unanswered goals in a crucial six-minute span during the second half to win their third straight game, 13-11 at Weinberg Turf Field on Wednesday.

The Brewers improve to 3-1 and will look to up their winning streak to four when they host SUNY Oneonta on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The Warriors drop to 1-3 and next host Roger Williams University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

After entering the second half tied 6-6, Vassar struck first as junior midfielder Sarah Warner fired in a shot off an assist from fellow junior attack Moe Byrne. However, indicative of the back-and-forth pace of the game that saw numerous scoring spurts, the Warriors responded just 23 seconds later, as senior attack Courtney Bedocs scored on an assist from junior attack Ashley Del Vecchio to tie the game, 7-7 with 28:23 to play.

The Brewers regained the lead when Warner's shot ricocheted off the cross bar and sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Feltch swatted the ensuing rebound back into the net for what would prove to be the decisive lead of the game with 26:33 remaining. The Brewers grabbed their first multi-goal lead with 23:43 left to play off a transition goal as Warner sent in a pass from junior midfielder Allie Morgan. Vassar added to its advantage as senior midfielder Jenn Richards converted a pass from Warner to take a 10-7 lead and the Brewers then capped the game-changing 4-0 run as Byrne caused a turnover, streaked up field and laid a pass off to Warner who fired home her fifth goal of the game to give the Brewers a four-goal cushion, 11-7 with 20:23 to play.

Vassar's four-goal lead would prove to be its largest of the game, as Eastern threatened to make a comeback behind the fierce play of senior attack Brooke Wayte. Wayte tallied three second half goals, all in similar fashion as she muscled across the goal face from the left side to fire in shots. Her final goal of the game drew the Warriors within 13-11, with 5:36 remaining, but Vassar allowed Eastern no closer. With just the two-goal lead, the Brewers got strong defensive play in the waning minutes of the game, as junior goalie Nicole Engelhardt turned away a point blank shot from Eastern senior midfielder Taylor MacDonald with under three minutes to play. Senior defender Lindsay Magida also had a big play in the closing minute, intercepting a dangerous pass in the backfield to give Vassar possession and allow the Brewers to run the remaining time off the clock.

In the first half, the Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Eastern got its first goal as Wayte shoveled a pass to senior attack Katie Beers who fired in the shot and Del Vecchio gave the Warriors a 2-0 lead with 19:46 remaining in the half, firing a shot into the goal from the left side of the net. Minutes later, Eastern sophomore defender Megan Barrett picked up a loose ball just over the midfield line and streaked to the net to laser a shot into the net, giving her team a 3-0 lead with 18:27 until halftime.

The Brewers finally responded with 15:20 left in the half, as Byrne made a run at the net from just outside the crease, firing a shot in. Less than twenty seconds later, Richards streaked across the goal face and sent a shot in backwards across her body to narrow the deficit to 3-2. Although the Warriors responded with a goal from freshman midfielder Daniela Marchitto off an assist from sophomore attack Ashley Prizio, the Brewers continued to mount their comeback. Warner netted her first goal of the game to draw the Brewers within one and Vassar finally managed to tie the game, 4-4 with 13:47 remaining in the half as senior attack Larisa Lasko caused an Eastern turnover before laying the ball off to sophomore teammate midfielder Morgan Namian who directed the ball into the net forcing an Eastern timeout. Namian's goal ended a back-and-forth period of less than three minutes that saw five goals scored.

The teams traded goals through the remaining minutes of the half as Wayte scored only to be answered by Warner, and though Prizio gave the Warriors back the lead, Morgan immediately returned the favor to tie the game 6-6 with 2:05 left in the half, a score that stood when the halftime buzzer sounded.

For Vassar, Warner notched a game-high five goals to go with one assists, while Feltch and Richards added two goals apiece. Byrne chipped in with a goal and two assists.

Wayte led the Warriors with four goals, Eastern's only multi-goal scorer and MacDonald contributed two assists.

The Brewers outshot the Warriors, 32-25. Engelhardt recorded six saves in the win, while Eastern freshman goalie Nancy Ibrahim had seven stops.