Saints Celebrate 19-15 Win Over Clarkson in Final Home Game

by: 

Tara Freeman

Amanda Forbes '09 totaled eight points on six goals and two assists against Clarkson.

Apr. 21: Senior captain Amanda Forbes recorded a game high six goals and rookie Kendall Harty recorded her first collegiate game-winner to help pace the St. Lawrence University women's lacrosse team to a 19-15 win over North Country archrival Clarkson University on Tuesday afternoon in Liberty League action on North Country Field.

The Saints celebrate their second straight win to improve to 6-7 overall and conclude the conference's regular season schedule with a 3-5 mark, while Clarkson falls to 4-10 and 1-7 in the league.

Forbes (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) amassed eight points off her six goals and two assists, while sophomore Kim Morse (Peaks Island, ME/North Yarmouth Academy) had another great game, recording four goals for the Scarlet and Brown. Junior Julie Wooters (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) found the back of the net three times, while senior Brittany Misercola (Watertown, NY/Watertown) added two. Juniors Katrina Knickerbocker (Clinton Corners, NY/The Gunnery) and Lexi Wisnowski (Middlebury, VT/Middlebury Union), as well as sophomores Kaitlyn Fahsel (Watertown, NY/South Jefferson) and Kim Cooper (Wolfboro, NH/Brewster Academy) as well as Harty (Norfolk, MA/King Philip) contributed a goal apiece. Harty's goal was the first of her St. Lawrence career as well. Adding helpers, in addition to Forbes, was Fahsel, Misercola, junior captain Mary Jane Sweetland (Hopewell, NJ/Stuart Country Day) with two, and first-year Nora Langan (Philadelphia, PA/Springside).

In a battle between two highly offensive squads, the teams traded goals early on before St. Lawrence earned a two goal edge at 19:51 off a goal from Morse. Clarkson knotted the score at 5-5 off the stick of Laura Barlow at 10:28, and with St. Lawrence seemingly off a little in their game due to three yellow cards late in the period, the Golden Knights scored four straight goals to earn a 7-5 advantage over the home team with 7:55 to play in the first.

The Scarlet and Brown charged back from the two goal deficit and recorded four unanswered goals of their own to jump ahead 9-7 with 1:57 left on the clock, but Clarkson's Alyssa Breed slipped it past St. Lawrence goalie Anna Marchand (Concord, MA/Middlesex) with 15 seconds remaining in the frame to make it a one goal game, 9-8, heading into the break.

The Saints continued to control the vast majority of the draws in the second half of the contest, leading to several fast break goals that helped give them a cushion over their opponent. Forbes led the offense in the final 30 minutes, scoring five of her six goals in the period. St. Lawrence continued to increase their lead early on before the visitors chipped away at it, coming as close as one goal after another goal from Breed with 23:30 left. Another four-goal run on the part of the Saints gave the home team a 16-11 lead that the Golden Knights were never able to recover from. Despite scoring four goals in the last ten minutes of the game, Forbes found the back of the net three times in the same time frame to maintain St. Lawrence's lead over Clarkson and walk off North Country Field with a 19-15 victory.

Clarkson was led by Emily Bojarski, who had five goals and one assist, and Breed, who tallied three goals and two helpers. The Saints were able to contain the Golden Knights' offensive powerhouse Kimberly Loucks to only a goal and an assist.

"I'm very proud with how well our team played today," said Saints Head Coach Jodi Canfield. "It was a team effort, but had several individual standout performances. We did a great job controlling the draws, which obviously opened up a number of quick scoring opportunities for us, and were more consistent in transition. It was a good conference win for us."

St. Lawrence held a 37-32 advantage in shots, a 28-27 edge in ground balls, and a staggering 27-9 lead in draw controls. Marchand stopped 11 balls, while Clarkson netminder Hannah Walters made 14 saves.

The Saints will conclude their regular season on Friday, April 24th against SUNY Geneseo. The Saints will face the Blue Knights at 4:30pm in Geneseo, NY.