Lax Falls in Opener, 11-10
Senior Meaghan McCurry scored her 100th career goal in the game.
The Central Connecticut women's lacrosse team fell by a single goal in its season opener on Friday night at Lafayette. The Blue Devils (0-1) and Leopards (2-0) played a close game with neither team able to lead by more than three goals at any time.
Senior Meaghan McCurry led CCSU with four goals in the game. Her first score of the game was the 100th of her career. McCurry is just the third CCSU player to reach 100 career goals and she finished the game second on CCSU's career list with 104.
Trailing 1-0, the Blue Devils got on the board with a goal by McCurry at the 26:46 mark in the first half. MCCurry's goal came off a pass from senior Mackenzy Ryan.
Two minutes later senior Betsy Vendel gave CCSU its first lead of the season with her first goal of the year. Freshman Elyse Malecki delivered her first career assist on the score.
After a pair of goals by Lafayette, CCSU tied the game at 3-3 on McCurry's second goal of the season at the 14:06 mark. Senior Betsy Vendel followed with her second goal 90 second later to give CCSU a 4-3 lead. Vendel pushed CCSU's lead to 5-3 with her third goal of the game. This time it was sophomore Andrea Tarsi with the assist.
The Leopards scored a pair of goals late in the period to tie the score. The CCSU defense was shorthanded for both of the goals by a pair of yellow cards.
Ryan got the Blue Devils on the board at the 27:47 mark of the second half with a free position goal. Two minutes later McCurry picked up her hat trick and extended CCSU's lead to 7-5.
Between the 25:18 and 20:49 marks Lafayette scored four straight goals to take a 9-7 lead.
The Blue Devils cut into the Leopards advantage at the 15:51 mark when McCurry and Ryan teamed up for the second time in the game. McCurry's goal was her fourth of the game.
After two more goals by Lafayette, CCSU scored again when Vendel passed to Healy for CCSU's ninth goal of the game.
The Blue Devils pulled to a single goal deficit on Ryan's second goal of the game, a free position goal with 3:34 remaining in the game.
Unfortunately, the Blue Devils were unable to score again and Lafayette held on for a 11-10 victory.
Sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Tullar made 11 saves for the Blue Devils. She also had 4 ground balls.
CCSU was led by McCurry's four goals and three from Vendel. Vendel added an assist and Ryan had two goals and two assists to also total four points. Ryan also controlled a team-high five draws.
On defense, junior Ashley Olhausen caused three turnovers and senior Cierra Ward collected a pair of ground balls.
The Blue Devils return to action on Wednesday afternoon against Stony Brook. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Arute Field and is CCSU's home opener.
