Stevens Tech Proves too much for Women's Lacrosse

ITHACA, NY - Steven Tech’s Michelle Buonacuore and Alysa Pigott lead all scorers each earning a team high 7 points (4g 3a) to help guide the undefeated Ducks (6-0, 2-0 E8) to a 20 to 8 Empire 8 conference victory over the Soaring Eagles (2-3, 0-2 E8), Sunday afternoon at Cornell University’s Schoellkopf Field.

The first five minutes of the contest saw a tight battle between EC and the Ducks. Stevens initially ended the scoreless draw with a goal from Kara Borzillo which was assisted by Buonacuore. Elmira responded right back a minute later with a goal from Perry Markell ’10 (Portsmouth, RI -- Portsmouth Abbey). On the day Markell recorded a game high five goals while also leading the game in groundballs with 6 and draw controls with 8.

Following the Markell tally, Stevens would once again fire right back this time with an unassisted goal by Pigott. That goal sparked a 7-0 run before the Soaring Eagles were able to find the back of their opponent’s cage again.

Elmira’s second goal came from third year attack Sarah Young ’09 (Hamton, NJ -- North Hunterdon) at the 10:57 mark. EC would record a total of two more goals before the halftime break. The Purple and Gold would go into the intermission trailing the Ducks by 8 (12-4).

Despite the large deficit, Elmira once again found them selves coming together in the second half, and showed that they were not going to give up that easily. Stevens would extend their lead in the first eight minutes on back-to-back goals.

Mary-Kate Geratowski ’08 (Wilder, VT -- Hartford) netted the first Soaring Eagles goal of the second half at around the 20 minute mark. Following that goal, Stevens put up another dent on the scoreboard taking their first ten point lead of the afternoon.

However that lead did not last as Elmira scored three quick goals to bring the game to within seven. Unfortunately, as fast as EC did close the gap between them and Steven’s, the Ducks regained control and retook their ten point lead with about 10 minutes left to play in the contest.

The final minutes would see two more goals from Stevens sealing the victory. Overall the two teams were even throughout most of the contest in a variety of statistics. Total shots at the end were 31 to 27 in favor of Steven’s while Elmira managed only four less groundballs then their opponents (28 to 24).

In the cage Jalene McCulloch ’10 (Belleville, ONT -- Millbrook School) did her best to try and neutralize the offensive barrage that was Steven’s attack. On the day McCulloch earned a combined 8 saves, 6 of which were recorded in the first half.

Women’s Lacrosse returns to action this Wednesday when they play host to Ithaca College. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

Stevens Tech 20, Elmira College 8
Box Score

Stevens Tech (6-0, 2-0 E8)    12   8    --    20
Elmira College (2-3, 0-2 E8) 4      4    --    8

Scoring: S-Michelle Buonacuore 4, Alyssa Pigott 4, Kara Borzillo 3, Leah Wasserman 2, Christine Smith 2, Katie Lalli 2, Kaitlyn Roes 1, Dana Perriello 1, Ana Trujillo 1; E-Perry Markell 5, Sarah Young 1, Erin Kendall 1, Mary-Kate Geratowski 1

Assists: S-Liz Mather 4, Michelle Buonacuore 3, Alyssa Pigott 3, Katie Lalli 1, Kaitlyn Roes 1, Christine Smith 1, Leah Wasserman 1; E-Georgia Markell 1, Lauren Mokes 1, Emily Zimmerman 1

Shots: S-31 E-27; Saves: S-Stephanie Linder 10, E-Jalene McCulloch 8