March 23, 2007

Royal and Gold continue streak
Falcons' fast break too much for Big Red

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio - The Notre Dame College Women’s Lacrosse team extended their win streak to five games with a 13-10 victory over the Denison University Big Red. The Falcon victory is now their fifth in a row and a new program record. The Falcons are now 5-2 this season and Denison falls to 2-2.

The Royal and Gold wasted no time in their redemption from last year’s double-overtime loss to the Big Red when Jenna Schuerman (So/Savage, MN) grabbed the ball immediately off the first draw of the game and took it to the cage to put the Falcons up 1-0 just eight seconds into the match. Less than a minute later, attacker Molly Merrill (So/Medina, OH) caught a Stacey Gowe (Fr/Medina, OH) pass to put the Falcons up 2-0. Not until the 22 minute-mark in the first half were the Big Red able to get on the board after Meg Wilcox shot one past keeper Kylie Flett (Jr/Adelaide, AUS). That was as close as Denison would get but not without nipping at the heels of NDC along the way.

After a three goal run by the Falcons and a few traded goals back and forth between competitors, NDC settled into an 8-4 lead with six minutes left in the first half. After a Gena McPherson (Fr/Brampton, ON) goal was disallowed because of too many people on the field, the Falcons never faltered and answered back with two more goals before the end of the half. Denison’s Quinn Simmons scored with sixteen seconds left on a free position to set the score at 9-5 heading into halftime.

Despite being outscored  by the Big Red 5-4 in the second half, a tough defensive ride and smart possession kept the Falcons alive. Key play on both ends of the field by Sarah Hutchison (Fr/Powell, OH), who had two goals and three pivotal caused turnovers, helped lead the Falcons to a final score of 13-10.

Six different Falcons were responsible for the lucky thirteen NDC goals. Gowe lead the way with four goals and one assist; McPherson had two goals and one assist and Merrill finished the day with a hat trick. Hutchison also found the back of the net twice while Schuerman and Dani Ulry (Fr/Westerville, OH) finished with one goal apiece.

Kylie Flett played all 60 minutes between the pipes and made 14 saves against the Big Red. Flett also picked off three Denison passes in the NDC defensive campaign.

NDC hosts their fifth home game in a row on Monday, Mar. 26 when they host the Wittenberg Tigers at Korb Field at 7pm.

Notes from the Nest…

The “Win” Beneath My Wings: In addition to a five-game winning streak, the Falcons’ fifth win also marks yet another broken record for NDC. The win marks a new single season win record. The hard fought victory is the Falcons’ fifth consecutive home win since last season, as well.

Starsky and Hutch: Maybe movie executives should consider changing it to "McPherson and Hutch" after Gena McPherson and Sarah Hutchison's dynamic duo status on the field. Four of the last five goals Hutchison has scored have been assisted by McPherson. Hutchison currently has ten goals and one assist this season while McPherson has 14 goals and seven assists.

Good Golly, Miss Molly: Molly Merrill has picked up a hat trick in her last three outings. Not only has she been a major scoring threat for the Falcons, she boasts an outstanding .611 shot percentage (11-for-18)