March 16, 2007

Goal record set as Falcons soar
Merrill picks up season-high four points in team effort

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio-- Fighting 20 mile-an-hour winds, a 12 degree windchill and icy field conditions, the Notre Dame College Women’s Lacrosse Team defeated Fontbonne University (MO) 19-2 to extend their win streak to a program best three games in a row. Their current record of three wins and two losses marks a high point, as well. The Fontbonne Griffins fall to 0-2 on the season.

Leading the way for the Falcons was Molly Merrill (So/Medina, OH) with three goals and one assist. Gena McPherson (2g 1a), Jenna Schuerman (2g, 1a) and Dani Ulry (1g 2a) finished the day with three points each.

After picking up the draw control, Merrill found the back of the net just 19 seconds into the first half and the Falcons never looked back. The Royal and Gold then rattled off six more goals to go up 7-0 before Chelsea Sickmann was able to sneak the first of two goals past goalkeeper Kylie Flett (Jr/Adelaide, AUS) at the 20:00 mark in the opening half. Sickmann also scored the second goal for the Griffins at 20:27 remaining in the game

Fifteen different Falcons tallied at least one point, showing the depth on the field and coming off the bench.

“I was very pleased with the way the team was able to move the ball around and look to any player on the field to take it to goal. We’re at the point where we all have the ability to take care of the ball and that’s huge for us,” Third year Head Coach Candace Taglianetti said.

Kylie Flett made two saves on the day while Marissa Lundgren (Fr/Uniontown, OH) was able to hop in between the pipes and turn away five-of-six Griffin shots.

The Falcons seeking to pick up their fourth win in a row, will take on rival Wittenberg University on Saturday, Mar. 17 at 1pm.

Notes from the Nest…

Wanna be a…groundballer: Staci Myrup (Fr/Murray, UT), Nikki Gatlin (Jr/Oakwood, OH) and Dani Ulry each picked up six groundballs apiece in the victory. Myrup now leads the team in groundballs with 19 on the season.

…Shotcaller: Not very often do you see a 1.00 shot percentage in the game of Lacrosse. Tonight was a little different as five Falcons had no problem making each shot count. Erin Leros (Jr/Lakewood, OH) and Courney Jackson (Fr/Worthington, OH) were 1-1, Sarah Hutchison (Fr/Powell, OH) and Gatlin shot 2-2 while Merrill went an outstanding 3-3.

Gnarly 19: The Falcons’ nineteen goals marks the most goals ever scored in a game in program history. Their Mar. 14 output of 17 goals against Seton Hill marked the second time in history that many shots got past the opponent. In the last two outings, the single-game goals record was either tied or broken.

Saving the best for last: In just her second collegiate appearance Lundgren was a part of yet another record-setting night. The first-year goalkeeper made a career best six saves to hold the Griffins to just two goals.