A fine finish
NDC closes out 2008 with Falcon Invitational title
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SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Notre Dame Lacrosse team wrapped up the 2008 season with a 12-6 win over Lindenwood (MO) for the Falcon Invitational championship on Saturday.

Notre Dame earned the berth to the title tilt with a 20-2 win over Tri-State (IN) on Friday night. Lindenwood (15-7) shut out John Caroll Saturday morning, 22-0.

In a game that started out with three ties and three lead changes in the first half, the Falcons would rally with six unanswered goals over 18 minutes to build five goal lead over the Lions and eventually go on to a six-goal victory.

Ashley Rutz (Fr/Milton, ONT) got on the board first a minute and a half into the game but Lindenwood's Laura Boland (So/Fenton, MO) answered back while Lacey Vatland (Fr/Vero Beach, FL) chipped in to take a 2-1 lead just six minutes in.

Gena McPherson (So/Brampton, ONT) tied it back up at two apiece but Boland answered again with a score to take their final lead of the game. April Pegler (Jr/Bryn Mawr, PA) was credited with the final game tying goal while McPherson scored three consecutive goals over six minutes to secure the win.

Notre Dame possessed the ball patiently in the second half and struck consistently throughout the closing half.

The Falcons were assisted by outstanding goal keeping by senior Kylie Flett (Adelaide, Australia). In Flett's swan song, she rattled off a season-best 16 saves.

Amanda Shapiro (Jr/Rochester, NY) played all 60 minutes between the pipes for the Lions and turned away eight Falcon shots.

McPherson lead all scorers with five goals with Rutz finished with a hat trick. Molly Merrill (Jr/Medina, OH) dished out four helpers.

Boland and Kandee Schroeder (Sr/Dundalk, MD) each had two scores for the Lions.

"I think it's great that we were able to end the season this way," said Head Coach Candace Taglianetti, "To have our seniors leave the nest with the tournament title is exciting."

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

TOURNEY ALL-STARS: Twelve student-athletes from the four competing teams were named the Falcon Invitational All-Tournament Team. Notre Dame featured four players who earned recognition: Emily Moore (So/Akron, OH), Ashey Rutz, Gena McPherson and Kylie Flett. Flett was also named Tournament MVP for her efforts between the pipes. Also making the All-Tournament cut: Kandee Schroeder, Jackie Noble, Laura Boland and Darby Hogan from Lindenwood; John Carroll's Ellen and Maura Neumeister and Kayla Grieser and Bridget Brown from Tri-State.

PLUS & MINUS: NDC closes out another remarkable season in the stat book. The Falcons increased the single-season goal record to 204 (12.75 goals/gm), up two goals from 2007 while only yielding 113 (7.06 goals against/gm) from the opponent (129 in 2007). The Blue & Gold fell short in some of the hustle stat categories with 320 groundballs this season. In 2007, Notre Dame picked up 494. In forced turnovers, NDC only caused 180 while they pressured their way to 274 last year.

HOME COOKIN' : The 12-4 finish ties the Falcons' best win/loss record which was set in 2007. Notre Dame boasted a perfect 7-0 record at Korb Field this year. NDC has amassed a 14-1 record at Korb since Apr. 27, 2006 with the last defeat on home turf dating back to Mar. 29, 2006 with a 12-6 loss to Wooster.