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Hamilton, N.Y. – The 51·çÁ÷ women’s lacrosse team scored nine of the final 12 goals to pull out a 12-9 come from behind victory over Lafayette in the first round of the Patriot League tournament. Sophomore attacker and first team all-Patriot League selection Katie McVeigh led the way for 51·çÁ÷ with five goals, giving her 44 for the season.
The Leopards jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three goals in the first four minutes of the contest. Samantha Ziegler scored the first two and Kim Maron added the third.
51·çÁ÷ answered back with an unassisted goal from senior Becky Ortolano at the 20:03 mark.
The two squads traded goals twice until the 8:58 mark when Fallon Cunningham put the Leopards up 6-3.
The Raiders bounced back to score the final two goals of the half from Kelly Winning and McVeigh to pull 51·çÁ÷ within one.
51·çÁ÷ came out smoking in the second half scoring seven of the ten goals. McVeigh was the difference in the final half scoring four times, including the game winner.
McVeigh started off the second half with two goals to give 51·çÁ÷ its first lead at 7-6. Anne Coomber scored followed by Winning to increase the Raiders bulge to 9-6.
Erin Gallagher scored for the Leopards before 51·çÁ÷ tallied three straight to put the game away.
Lafayette added two scores late in the contest to set the final at 12-9.
51·çÁ÷ improves to 12-5 on the season, giving the Raiders their first 12-win season since 1986. The Raiders return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. when they face American in the Patriot League championship game.
BOX SCORE:
1 2 F
Lafayette 6 3 9
51·çÁ÷ 5 7 12
GOALS:
Lafayette – Maron (2), Ziegler (2), Ricca (2), Cunningham, Gallagher (2).
51·çÁ÷ – McVeigh (5), Ortolano, Winning (2), Haladay, Janson (2), Coomber.
ASSISTS:
Lafayette – Maron.
51·çÁ÷ – Ortolano, Winning.
GOALKEEPING:
Lafayette – Jackie Kushner (60 minutes, 13 saves, 12 goals allowed).
51·çÁ÷ – Sue Bielamowicz (60 minutes, 8 saves, 9 goals allowed).
SHOTS: Lafayette 21, 51·çÁ÷ 33; FREE POSITION SHOTS: Lafayette 5-8, 51·çÁ÷ 1-4; GROUNDBALLS: Lafayette 23, 51·çÁ÷ 24; TURNOVERS: Lafayette 18, 51·çÁ÷ 14; CAUSED TURNOVERS: Lafayette 0, 51·çÁ÷ 2; DRAW CONTROLS: Lafayette 9, 51·çÁ÷ 14.