March 20, 2012

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Women's Lacrosse Team suffered its second-straight conference loss, falling to defending conference champion, Norwich University, 20-4. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match was played under the lights at Roberto Clemente Field, as the Cadets were making their 2012 season debut. The loss drops Emmanuel to 1-2 on the season and 0-2 in the league, while Norwich improves to 1-0.

The Cadets came out on fire and got a hat trick from senior midfielder Kacey Abbriano (Hicksville, N.Y.) in the opening five minutes of play. With Norwich holding a 3-0 advantage, the visitors continued to pour on the pressure. The Cadets received four goals from rookie middie Gina Conroy (Amherst, N.H.) and another from Abbriano over a ten-minute span and Norwich led, 8-0 at the 15-minute mark.

The Cadets would score one more time on a marker from Grace Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, Me.), before Emmanuel found the scoreboard on a free position shot by GNAC Weekly Honor Roll selection Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.).

Norwich netted five more goals before the break and the Saints got one more from freshman Marykate McNulty (Madison, Conn.) off an assist from Altwies and Emmanuel trailed, 14-2 at halftime.

The second half featured more of the same, with the Cadets scoring six more times before it was over. The ten-goal differential made for a quick moving second half, but the Saints were able to squeeze two more shots past Norwich keeper Meghan Kennedy (Lowell, Mass.). Senior captain Logan Carr (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and freshman middie Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.) each scored second-half goals for the Saints.

Abbriano finished the night with 7 goals and an assist to lead the Cadets. Conroy and Fitzpatrick added 4 goals apiece for Norwich. Kennedy picked up the win in net, making 7 saves for Norwich.

Emmanuel goalie Hillary Dandurant (Merrimac, Mass.) was peppered with 32 shots on goal, but made 12 saves on the night.

The Cadets led the Saints in total shots, 38-11, and in ground balls, 32-25. Norwich went 5 for 7 on free position shots.

Emmanuel will return to action on Thursday in a non-conference battle down in Providence, R.I. The Saints will travel to Rhode Island College to take on the Anchorwomen in a 6:00pm start.