Lacrosse Tops RMU, Now 2-0 in NEC

The Central Connecticut women's lacrosse team earned a 14-7 victory over the Colonials of Robert Morris on Sunday afternoon.  The Blue Devils (3-5, 2-0 NEC) were led by junior Claire Healy's four goals.  CCSU outscored the Colonials (4-5, 0-2 NEC) 8-2 in the second half to pull away for the victory.

A Robert Morris goal with 13:10 left in the contest cut CCSU's lead to 9-7, but the Blue Devils responded with three goals over the next 92 seconds to break the game open.  Central added goals with 9:56 and 7:27 left in the period to close the game on a 5-0 run.

Healy scored her fourth goal of the game with an assist from senior Betsy Vendel to start the second half scoring with 21:35 left to play.  Thirty seconds later, freshman Falynn McCartney scored her first career goal on a fee position shot, which gave CCSU an 8-5 lead.

With 13:49 left in the period, following a goal by Robert Morris, Vendel scored to increase the Blue Devil lead to 9-6.

Another Colonial goal cut CCSU's lead to 9-7 with 13:10 left to play, but that was the end of Robert Morris' scoring for the game.  The Blue Devil defense held the Colonials off the scoreboard for the rest of the game as the CCSU offense scored five more goals.

Sophomore Jessica Sudock and freshman Madison Hughes scored on free position shots.  Senior Mackenzy Ryan scored her first goal of the game with an assist from Vendel, freshman Elyse Malecki scored an unassisted goal and Hughes closed out the scoring with another free position goal.

In the first half, Healy gave the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead on a free position goal three minutes and 50 seconds into the game.  Three minutes later Healy picked up her second score of the game with the help of Malecki.

A pair of quick goals by the Colonials tied the game at 2-2, but CCSU answered with a 3-0 run over a five minute period between 17:39 and 12:49.  Senior Betsy Vendel scored the first goal to give CCSU the lead.  Healy followed with her third goal of the game on a free position shot and Sudock capped the run with an unassisted goal.

Robert Morris answered with a goal 13 seconds after play resumed following Sudock's score.

The 5-3 score held until junior Amanda Toke found the net with an unassisted goal with 3:07 left in the period.  Toke's score gave Central a 6-3 lead, but the Colonials were able to add two more goals over the final three minutes of the period and the first half came to an end with the Blue Devils leading 6-5.

The Blue Devil defense was led by sophomore Morgan Tullar's 13 saves in goal.  Tullar held the Colonials to seven goals total and just two in the second half.  She also recorded a team-high six ground balls in the game.

Robert Morris turned the ball over 25 times in the game with CCSU recording 15 caused turnovers.  Vendel posted a team-high four caused turnovers, while senior Ali Roche, senior Cierra Ward, Toke and Hughes all caused a pair.

Vendel also scooped up four ground balls and controlled two draws to go along with her two goals, two assists and four caused turnovers.

Roche also had four ground balls in the game.

The Blue Devils are 2-0 in NEC play for the second consecutive season.  Last year was the first time in program history that the Blue Devils started NEC play with two victories.  The 2012 squad started a program best 3-0 in conference games.

CCSU will return to action for three home games this week at Arute Field.  The Blue Devils will host Manhattan College on Tuesday, Sacred Heart on Thursday and Quinnipiac on Saturday.