WOMEN'S LACROSSE ENDS SEASON IN GNAC QUARTERFINALS
April 24, 2012
NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Emmanuel Women's Lacrosse Team, making the program's first-ever post-season appearance, was defeated by the top-seeded Cadets of Norwich University, 14-4, in the opening round of the tournament. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) quarterfinal match up was played at Norwich's Howard Field, with the Cadets improving to 12-0 with their 27th-straight win over a league opponent and the program's 17th in a row on their home field.
Norwich received a stern first-half challenge from the eighth-seeded Saints, who end their second season of varsity competition at 5-10 overall. Emmanuel rallied from an early 4-1 deficit and cut NU's advantage to 4-3 with less than 7:30 to go. The Saints got goals from Megan Mattox (Upton, Mass.), Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) and Madeline Leahy (Cohasset, Mass.) during the run. However, goals from Norwich's senior attacker Lindsey Mathias (Worcester, Mass.) and Kacey Abbriano (Hicksville, N.Y) over the final 6:36 of the frame made it 6-3 at halftime.
Norwich carried its momentum into the second, scoring three goals in the first nine minutes of play. The offensive roll extended to nine-straight goals before Emmanuel scored the Saints' last goal of the season in final 10 minutes of the contest.
Getting four-goal games from senior attacker Danielle Del Dotto (Andover, Mass.), senior midfielder Abbriano and sophomore midfielder Grace Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, Maine), Norwich University toppled Emmanuel College 14-4 April 24 in quarterfinal round play of the 2012 Great Northeast Athletic Conference postseason tournament.
Norwich held a sizable 44-7 edge in total shots, as Fitzpatrick and Abbriano combined for 23. The Maroon and Gold's defense was just as strong with 12 caused turnovers and 40 ground balls picked up with Fitzpatrick leading the category with 11.
Emmanuel, playing without the program's all-time leading scorer Logan Carr, was guided by a two-goal, two-assist game from junior Leahy. Altwies added a goal and two assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Hillary Dandurant (Merrimac, N.H.) played a strong match in net, making a career-high 18 saves in the face of Norwich's offensive blitz.
The Cadets return to Howard Field for semifinal round play on Thursday, April 26, taking on the fourth-seeded Sharks of Simmons College in a 4:00PM start. The winner of this game will advance to the GNAC Championship game Saturday, April 28.
- Courtesy of Norwich University Sports Information