April 17 , 2007

Falcons nested
Laxers win streak halted against Ohio Wesleyan

DELAWARE, Ohio - Despite a three goal surge in the last four minutes of play the Notre Dame Falcons (10-3) fell short to the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops (7-2) 7-8 on Tuesday evening at Ohio Wesleyan’s Roy Rike Field. The loss to the Bishops marks an abrupt halt to a monumental ten game win streak after an 0-2 start.

The Falcons got on the board first for the eleventh consecutive time when Jenna Schuerman (So/Savage, MN) fed the ball to the middle and Gena McPherson (Fr/Brampton, ON) found the back of the net to give NDC their only lead of the day. Ohio Wesleyan tied it up 30 seconds later off a Paula Breen goal. Breen wasn’t quite finished when she scored again four minutes later to set the score at 3-1 heading into halftime. The lone NDC goal marks their lowest first half score since 2004.

The Royal and Gold came out much stronger in the second half as they mustered up a few rallies in hopes of evening out the score. Answering back to a quick OWU goal by Hannah Mudge just thirty seconds into the frame, Stacey Gowe (Fr/Medina, OH) wove her way through a stifling Bishop defense to cut the score to 4-2. After a quiet first half, Gowe threaded the needle one more time and was fouled by Ohio Wesleyan and scored on a free position to bring the Falcons within one.

However, as NDC tried to even up the score, Ohio Wesleyan was able to possess the ball and slip the ball past Kylie Flett on the fast break two more times to put the Battling Bishops up 6-4 before the ten minute mark.

Ohio Wesleyan was able to capitalize on an NDC defensive struggle and foul trouble and widen the scoring margin to 8-4 with just over six minutes remaining in the game.

Because the game of lacrosse is one of quick scoring and every second counts, the Falcons were able to push the fast break offense off the next draw control and put an end to their 20 minute scoring drought scoring three goals in one minute. On their next possession, Sarah Hutchison (Fr/Powell, OH) was fouled by Bishop goalkeeper, Maggie Eichenlaub giving Hutchison a free-position shot on an open net to get the Falcons within three scores with three minutes remaining.

Hutchison’s goal amped up a stagnant Falcon offense that wasn’t going to let the game end without one last rally. Molly Merrill (So/Medina, OH) snatched the ball right off the draw and transitioned it down to OWU’s end of the field. Gowe, again, was able to get inside and feed it back to Merrill and then grab yet one more netfinder to make the score 8-6.

The next draw proved crucial and Jo Bauswein (So/Chagrin Falls, OH) came out on top and was able to grab the ball to keep it in the Falcons’ sticks. Schuerman picked up her second helper of the day when Merrill was open directly in front of the cage to come within one goal of the Battling Bishops with two minutes left in the game.

Ohio Wesleyan got the ball on the final draw of the game and was able to run out the clock despite high pressure coming the Royal and Gold.

Stacey Gowe and Molly Merrill lead the NDC scoring with two goals apiece. Dani Ulry (Fr/Gahanna, OH), Gena McPherson and Hutchison each scored once. Jenna Schuerman and Gowe each dished out an assist.

Breen was the high scorer for OWU with a hat trick while Mudge finished with two goals. Alexa Deaton, Lura Allen and Kadi Kuhlenberg each scored one goal for the Battling Bishops.

Kylie Flett made eight saves on the day while Ohio Wesleyan’s Eichenlaub turned away 10 NDC shots.

NDC returns to their home turf on Friday, April 20 when they host the Mercyhurst Lakers at 7:00pm.