Saints Conclude Season With 14-7 Loss to Geneseo

by: 

Tara Freeman

Kaitlyn Fahsel '11 scored twice for the Saints against Geneseo State.

Apr. 24: Despite coming back from an early three-goal deficit and knotting things up at the half, the St. Lawrence University women's lacrosse team was unable to hold off a fiery SUNY Geneseo squad Friday afternoon as the Blue Knights used a ten-goal second half to earn a 14-7 win over the Saints in Geneseo, NY.

Geneseo improves to 8-5 with the win while St. Lawrence finishes their 2009 campaign with a 6-8 overall mark.

Leading the Saints on the offensive side of the field was sophomore Kaitlyn Fahsel (Watertown, NY/South Jefferson) and junior captain Mary Jane Sweetland (Hopewell, NJ/Stuart Country Day), who each tallied two goals, while senior captain Amanda Forbes (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) as well as rookies Margie Bailey (Jordan, NY/Jordan-Elbridge) and Liz Fagan (Madison, CT/Loomis Chaffee) recorded a goal apiece. Forbes and first-year Kendall Harty (Norfolk, MA/King Philip) each recorded an assist in their efforts.

The home team found themselves up 3-0 over the Scarlet and Brown early on with 23:49 left in the period. Fahsel finally got the Saints on the board after her first of two goals, but Geneseo quickly responded within 45 seconds and found the back of St. Lawrence's net once again to maintain their three goal advantage.

St. Lawrence was able to contain the Blue Knights in the final 18 minutes of the game and scored three straight goals in the final ten minutes, including Bailey's game-tying goal with just 14 seconds remaining, to end the half with a 4-4 tie.

It didn't take long, however, for Geneseo to return to true form, as they tallied a goal 52 seconds into the second stanza to spark a 5-0 run to increase their lead to 9-4 before the Fahsel blasted a free position shot into the goal midway through the period to end St. Lawrence's cold streak. The Blue Knights continued to dominate in the midfield, controlling 11 of 14 draws in the half, creating fast break opportunities that served them well through the remainder of the contest. The Saints were contained to just three goals while the home squad scored 10 in the final 30 minutes of action to earn the 14-7 victory.

Both teams struggled throughout the contest in transition with Geneseo turning possession over 30 times, compared to St. Lawrence's 27. In the various statistical categories, St. Lawrence were nearly even with their hosts, including shots (31-27) and ground balls (34-27), but the difference came in draw controls, where the Blue Knights held a decisive 17-6 advantage.

Sophomore goalie Anna Marchand (Concord, MA/Middlesex) recorded 11 saves, while Geneseo's Caitlin McKee stopped 13 in the game.

"We did a great job in the first half climbing our way from a three goal deficit to tie it up," says Head Coach Jodi Canfield. "We struggled in the midfield, which is where we knew we had to be successful as it has been a critical part of our recent wins. Geneseo was a strong team and did a good job in aspects of the game where they needed to in order to win, and that was the difference."

For seniors Forbes and Brittany Misercola (Watertown, NY/Watertown), the game marks their final contest in a St. Lawrence jersey. The two have combined for 133 goals and 23 assists for 156 points, 100 ground balls, 138 draw controls, 37 caused turnovers, and six game-winners in their four years on the team.