McCurry Scores Four, But Lax Falls
Lacrosse ends the season with a 10-9 loss at Sacred Heart.
The Central Connecticut women's lacrosse team fell to Sacred Heart, 10-9, in the season finale on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Devils (7-9, 5-4 NEC) led at the half, but were unable to hold off a late charge by the Pioneers (8-8, 7-2 NEC).
The Blue Devils finish the 2012 season having tied the program record for wins in a season (7) and setting a new record for NEC victories in a year (5).
The Pioneers scored a pair of goals in the first three minutes of the game to take an early lead.
The Blue Devils responded by taking control of the game for the remainder of the first half, outscorring Sacred Heart 9-3 over the final 24 minutes of the period.
Senior Ashley Mara scored on a free position shot at the 23:41 mark to get the Blue Devils on the board. Less than a minute later, junior Meaghan McCurry scored her first goal with the help of junior Mackenzy Ryan.
After a goal by the Pioneers, McCurry scored her second goal of the game with the help of senior Ashley Perkoski.
Sacred Heart scored its fourth goal of the game, and McCurry countered for Central notching her third score with the help of Mara.
Ryan followed with a free position shot at the 13:16 mark to make it a 5-4 game, but the Pioneers were able to tie the game at five on a goal by Katie Gerhard.
The Blue Devils took a 9-5 lead into the half with the help of a 4-0 run to close the period.
Ryan passed to Mara for a goal at the 10:57 mark, which opened Central's closing run. Ryan scored the next goal with the help of sophomore Claire Healy. McCurry scored her fourth goal of the half with 1:52 remaining in the period, junior Betsy Vendel had the assist. The final goal of the period came with seven seconds left as Vendel scored on a pass from Perkoski.
The Blue Devils were unable to score against Sacred Heart in the second half and the Pioneers posted five goals to take a 10-9 lead with 15:29 left in the game. Neither team scored in the final 15 minutes of play.
Senior goalkeeper Erin DeLancey made 12 saves in her final game for the Blue Devils.
Mara controlled a game-high four draws on the day.
McCurry and Ryan each had four points. Ryan's came on two goals and two assists, McCurry's on four goals.
McCurry led the Blue Devils in goals this season with 39. She scored 14 over the final three games of the season.
Perkoski led the team in points this season with 57. Her 34 assists set a new CCSU single-season record.
