Women’s Lacrosse Dominates LeMoyne

In women’s lacrosse first-ever meeting with Le Moyne, the Red was able to maintain its spotless record with a decisive victory, 11-5, and ended the Dolphin’s two game winning streak, leaving them at 2-4. The Red thoroughly dominated the Dolphins, setting a school record of 20 forced turnovers, while also making use of the team’s depth as the entire bench saw playing time.
Senior captain Deidre Lafferty commented, “it was a fun game to play especially because other teammates were able to get into the game.”
[img_assist|nid=36021|title=Get out the way|desc=Senior captain Jessica Wiegand navigates traffic against LeMoyne yesterday. The Red took an easy victory against the Dolphins, using its overpowering defense to take the win, 11-5.|link=node|align=left|width=|height=0]
Although Lafferty thought that the defense played solidly, she attributed the success of the game to the offenses ability to slow the ball down on the ride and force turnovers by doubling back. “Our attack did a really great job re-defending,” she said.
The Red scored within the first three minutes of the game off of a forced turnover on the defense. The Red took advantage with a fast break down the field by senior defenseman Kelly Hanson, a pass to freshman attack Jessi Steinberg and feed to junior attack Kate Dewey, who neatly put away the Red’s first goal of the game.
The Red’s ability to keep the pressure high on the Dolphin’s defense handed the Red more opportunities to maintain control of the game. The next three goals came off of free position opportunities by freshman midfielder Shannon McHugh, sophomore attacker Libby Johnson and senior midfielder and co-captain Jessica Wiegand. McHugh followed up her eight-meter shot with an unassisted goal at 4:12.
Despite Red’s offensive domination, its five-goal scoring streak was halted by two Le Moyne goals with less than two minutes remaining on the first half. Sophomore midfielder Rebekah Elmer was able to put Le Moyne on the scoreboard with an assist from Michelle Phillips. Twenty seconds later Le Moyne sophomore Nerissa Barzee charged into the Red’s eight meter arc to secure another goal for the Dolphins.
However, the Red was quick to answer back. With thirty seconds on the clock, the offense was able to work the ball around and maintain a composed possession, until Wiegand, with 11 seconds on the clock, made a hard push to the goal, ending the half with the Red up, 6-2.
“We needed to capitalize on our shooting opportunities…I don’t think the score was indicative of how we controlled the game” said sophomore attack Claire Poza upon reflecting on the outcome of the first half.
Libby Johnson initiated the Red’s second half scoring run with a lefty take around the crease, scoring an unassisted goal at 25:34. Although Le Moyne held some possession time, high pressure defense beyond the twelve meter kept LeMoyne’s offensive prospects at a minimum.
“We implemented a new defense that caught LeMoyne off-guard,” said Poza.
Jessica Wiegand was able to take advantage of the LeMoyne defense by drawing a shooting space call, and finishing her free position in the top right corner at 20:36. The Red continued on its scoring run with a beautiful transition up the field from McHugh to Lafferty, who sped up the field, and made a quick pass to junior midfielder Lindsay Kaner, who snuck around the goalie.
At 17:48 freshman goalie Kyla Dambach made her collegiate debut, subbing in for junior goalkeeper and recent Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week recipient, Kristen Reese. Dambach notched a pair of saves, including one off of a free position.
Adding to the goal-scoring tally, Johnson took the ball up the left side of the crease and was able to hit Jessi Steinburg on a nice cut through the eight meter, who finished the play with a well-placed bounce shot into the net.
Attacker Claire Poza, who has recently been seeing more playing time clinched her first collegiate goal with a hard righty rap around the crease at 9:11.
At 6:63 the Red gave up a free position to Le Moyne sophomore midfielder Mia Valletta. Battling to the end, Le Moyne was also able to secure two more goals within the last minute of the game to end the game at 11-5.
“It is great to be 4-0 and be one step closer to the final four [the game] was also a testament to things we need to work on,” Lafferty said.