Orange Slips Past Connecticut, 13-12

Saturday, March 26

Storrs, CT

1:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Connecticut

Senior Monica Joines tallied her fifth hat-trick of the season against Connecticut.

3/26/2005 5:58:49 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Syracuse 13, Connecticut 12

STORRS, Conn. – The No. 15 Syracuse women’s lacrosse team was able to hold off a second half rally by the Connecticut Huskies in a 13-12 victory on Saturday, March 26, at the George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex in Storrs. The Orange improves to 5-2 for the year and 1-1 in league action, while Connecticut is now 5-2 overall and 0-1 in BIG EAST play.

Connecticut took a 1-0 lead when Heather McHugh scored from Tracy Mullaney 1:45 into the game. Syracuse scored the next five goals though to take a 5-1 advantage. Senior Monica Joines scored the first two of the goals of this spurt. Unassisted strikes from Tanya Kotowicz and Jacqui Hamilton brought the Huskies back to within a pair of goals at 5-3 with just over eight minutes to play in the half, but the Orange scored the next two goals.

Sophomore Ashley Pike and freshman Allison Furstenburg found the back of the net for the Orange, chasing UConn starting goalkeeper Jennifer Wong at the 24:15 mark after allowing seven goals without making a save. Down 7-3, UConn cut Syracuse’s lead in half by the half time break on the strength of a goal and an assist by Mullaney.

The Orange scored five of the second half's first seven goals to extend its lead to 12-7 with 15 minutes to play. Senior Courtney Palladino scored twice in the run, both set up by junior Melody Agnew, who also scored a goal of her own. Joines completed her hat trick while senior Caitlyn Dragon also tallied for Syracuse.

UConn would not stay down, producing a rally over the next seven minutes that brought the Huskies to within a goal of tying the game. Kristen Link scored on a free position shot at 46:49, followed by Hamilton goals at 47:41 and 50:10 and an unassisted Shannon Burke strike at 51:52.

Syracuse took advantage of a free position opportunity as sophomore Jill DePetris scored with 3:41 to play, but Kotowicz would split the Orange defense for a goal with 3:12 to play, making it a 13-12 game. However, after a UConn foul gave Syracuse possession of the ensuing draw, the Orange was able to run out the remainder of the clock and secure the win.

Junior Jen Kasel went the distance for the Orange in the cage, making 10 saves.

Hamilton scored four goals to lead Connecticut and Mullaney also tallied four points on two goals and two assists.

Syracuse returns to action on Wednesday, March 30 when the Orange hosts Brown at 8:00 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.