LaSalle Drops A Close Game To GW In Women’s Lacrosse

PHILADELPHIA, PA. 4/15/2012 – It was a game that neither team had more than a one goal lead.  LaSalle had a 7 – 6 lead midway through the second half, but in the end the Explorers made costly mistakes to drop an 8 – 7 decision to the George Washington Colonials at McCarthy Stadium.  The loss might have kept LaSalle a chance of getting a tournament berth, but it was how they lost that caught the attention of Explorers Coach Candace Taglianetti.

“It’s a disappointing loss, but a senior getting ejected from the game is what I am most upset about,” said Taglianetti.  “It is a pivotal game, and we didn’t close it out.”

“We should be in second place and that is where my frustration is right now,”

With 15:48 to play a goal by LaSalle Freshman midfielder Claire Andrews, her 20th of the season, gave the Explorers a 7 – 6 edge.  Colonials midfielder Sarah Phillips answered 1:20 later to tie the game.  It was the third consecutive goal scored by Phillips in the half and of the game.  Attack Nicole Lacey scored on a free position shot, her third of the contest, with 12:03 on the clock.  It was the last goal of the game.

LaSalle Goal Keeper Megan Corliss

At that point George Washington got the territorial advantage and kept the pressure on LaSalle.  However, the Explorer defense and saves made by LaSalle Senior goal keeper Megan Corliss kept the differential at one goal.

“They had it (the ball) a lot in the second half especially,” Corliss said.  “Our defense stepped up huge.  It’s good for us.  We like being on defense more, it helps us stay focused on the game.”

“We are trying to be hyper-focused, but unfortunately we fell behind and couldn’t come back.”

Corliss made 5 saves on 17 shots.  Colonials goal keepers Jess Hicks and Mackenzie Jones had to be better as LaSalle out 30 shots on goal.  Hicks had 9 saves while Jones saved 5.  The Explorers looked better on the stat sheet, but couldn’t come up with the equalizer.

Down the stretch the Colonials retained possession as the Explorers desperately tried to force a turnover.  However, the player who has caused the most turnovers for LaSalle, Senior midfielder Rachel Baker, committed a foul to get a yellow card, then was issued a red card.  Still, LaSalle got a turnover with 1:51 to play, but gave the ball back 11 seconds later.  George Washington ran the clock out to get the win.

“The draw controls were obviously key, and a player getting ejected from the game was unacceptable,” Taglianetti said.

“We did have a chance to come back, we had the ball in our sticks, we called a smart timeout, but couldn’t capitalize,” said Taglianetti. “We had a freshman make an error as freshman will, but we can’t let it get to that point.”

Freshman attack Caitlyn Brostrand scored two goals for LaSalle giving her a team leading 29 for the season. Junior midfielder Melanie Sarcinello also had two goals giving her 28 for the year.  The Newtown Square native had 9 shots, 3 ground balls, and 2 draw controls.  Junior attack Jackie Roebuck, Sophomore midfielder Maggie O’Ferrall, and Andrews tallied one time each.  For Andrews it was her 20th of the campaign.

George Washington improves their conference record to 3 – 2.  LaSalle is 9 – 5 on the season and are 2 – 3 in the Atlantic 10.  The Explorers have league leader UMass then local rival Saint Joseph’s on the schedule.  Despite the defeat the Explorers are getting energy from freshman players such as Brostrand and Andrews who are helping to point the program in the right direction.

“We have a lot of contributing freshman, the team works really hard, and we have a lot of positive energy and want to win,” Taglianetti said.

Boxscore

Written By: Glenn Papazian

 

 

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