Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 19, 2010) – Although tied midway through the first half, the Vassar College women's lacrosse team was unable to stay close with an athletic SUNY Oneonta team that went on an 8-1 tear to close the half, picking up a 19-12 victory over the Brewers on Friday evening at Weinberg Field.

The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Brewers, who fall to 3-2 and next host cross river rival SUNY New Paltz next Friday at 4:00 p.m. The Red Dragons improve to 5-1 and play at Farmingdale State College on March 27 at 3:00 p.m.

Oneonta was unable to stop speedy Vassar junior midfielder Sarah Warner in the opening minutes of the game, as Warner scored three unassisted goals in the first ten minutes, her third goal giving Vassar a 4-3 lead with 19:28 left in the half. It would prove to be the Brewers' last lead of the game, however, as Oneonta sophomore attack Rebecca Monteith matched Warner with her own third tally of the game, tying the score 4-4 with 16:08 left in the half.

The Red Dragons caught fire following Monteith's tying goal, reeling off seven unanswered points to take an 11-4 lead with 6:15 remaining in the half. Although a free position goal from Warner stopped the onslaught, freshman midfielder Jaclyn Martella scored a goal on an assist from junior midfielder Rosemarie Fazio with just 12 seconds left in the half to grab a 12-5 halftime lead.

Though Vassar struck first in the second half, off an unassisted tally from senior midfielder Jenn Richards, the Red Dragons scored the next three goals to take what would match their largest lead of the game, 15-6 with 26:09 to play. Vassar managed to narrow the lead in the final 23:45, outscoring Oneonta 5-3 during that period for the final 19-12 margin of defeat.

Warner led the Brewers with her second consecutive five-goal game, while junior attack Moe Byrne contributed four goals. Richards added two goals and junior midfielder Emily Kloppenburg chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Vassar struggled to contain Monteith, who poured in eight goals to go with two assists. Sophomore midfielder Heidi Kissinger added three goals and an assist, Fazio chipped in with two goals and two assists, while sophomore midfielder Brittany Passarelli and freshman attack Caroline Tulley contributed two goals apiece.

Junior Nicole Englehardt started in goal for the Brewers making one save. Sophomore Heather Kesselman entered late in the first half and had an impressive day with eight saves, many of them on point blank Oneonta shots. For the Red Dragons, sophomore Annelise Muscietta made nine saves in the win.

Oneonta outshot Vassar 38-30, while the Brewers held the advantage in ground balls, 29-19.