Dickinson Too Much for Women's Lacrosse, 13-8, in NCAA Division III Tournament First-Round Action
Boxscore/Play-by-PlaySPRINGFIELD, Mass., May 10, 2006 – Springfield College junior attacker Ashley Martell (Billerica, Mass.) tallied two goals and an assist, but it was the Red Devils of Dickinson College which defeated the Pride, 13-8, in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Tournament this afternoon at a rainy Benedum Field.
SC ends its impressive 2006 campaign with a 12-6 overall record, as 13th-ranked Dickinson (15-5) will move on to face last year’s national runner-up, Salisbury University, in second-round action on Saturday afternoon, May 13th, in an 11:30 a.m. start in Salisbury, Maryland.
The Red Devils were led by freshman attacker Amy Jennings (Baltimore, Md.) with a seven-goal outpouring. Jennings also added two assists for nine total points of offense on the afternoon. Sophomore midfielder Laura Williams (Chestertown, Md.) contributed with four scores and two assists for six points in the win.
Dickinson fourth-year head coach Kasey Ryan stated, “Overall, I thought our attack went really well, in the first half especially. In the second half, our attack wasn’t all that great, but we did a great job of gaining the ball right back after we had lost possession. I thought Lizzie Cone (Hockessin, Md.) came up with some great interceptions, and Jennings did a tremendous job for us, especially considering she is just a freshman. She really stepped up in her first NCAA game.”
To open the contest, the Pride scored two quick goals in the first two and a half minutes of play as freshman midfielder Meghan Wisell (South Burlington, Vt.) and Martell each found the back of the net. Dickinson came right back, however, scoring three consecutive times (two from Jennings) to take a 3-2 lead with 20:51 still remaining in the opening half.
SC attackers Heidi Eidse (Bryn Athyn, Pa.) and Heather Dobson (Longmeadow, Mass.) then scored at the 19:06 and 14:19 marks of the first stanza, respectively, to give the Pride a 4-3 lead. This would prove to be SC’s last advantage of the game, however, as the Red Devils proceeded to rally off seven of the half’s final eight goals to take a commanding 10-5 halftime lead.
In the second 30 minutes of play, the Pride scored the first two goals, much like the first half, to get to within 10-7. Junior attacker Rachel Lampros (Boxborough, Mass.) scored with 29:44 left to play, and Martell netted a shot with 26:08 remaining in regulation. But that would be as close as SC would come to tying the affair, as the second half was played at an even three goals apiece.
Dickinson junior goalkeeper Gabby Joffie (Jamaica, N.Y.) made six stops in net for the Red Devils, as the Pride tandem of sophomore Kristin Vaccaro (Southington, Conn.) and freshman Nicole Flores (Branford, Conn.) stopped 14 Dickinson shots on goal.
SC second-year head coach Katie Hawke stated, “Dickinson is an excellent team. In fact, I thought their transition game and their attack was the best we’ve seen all season. I was happy with our defense in the second half, but overall we did not do a very good job in our transition game. They pressured us very well and made some outstanding interceptions. We wish them well for the rest of the tournament.”
Senior midfielder Holly Carmody (Wayland, Mass.) scored one goal in the contest, as the co-captain ended her illustrious four-year Springfield College career with 159 goals (first all-time), 220 points (first all-time), and 61 assists (second all-time).
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Regan Downton Denham, who will be entering her first season as the head coach of the women's lacrosse team and assistant professor of physical education at Springfield College in 2008-2009, looks to bring the Pride's lacrosse program to the next level. Read more.