March 30, 2006

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - American University held off a late Aggie comeback charge, led by freshman Patrice Clark's career-high four goals, to save a 9-7 victory over UC Davis in non-conference collegiate women's lacrosse action at the Jacobs Recreational Complex Thursday afternoon.

The Aggies even their record at 5-5. The Eagles, members of the Patriot League, improve to 5-6 overall.

Junior midfielder Sarah Milewski scored back-to-back goals in a span of 21 seconds to ignite a 6-0 first half for American. Lauren Aksionoff had a pair of assists in the waning minutes before the halftime break - first to Moriah Linnell, then to Jackie Lane - as part of that run.

The Eagles extended their lead to 7-0 in the 42nd minute on an unassisted goal by freshman attacker Leslie Fischer. Clark answered quickly, putting UC Davis on the board with a goal at the 42:19 mark. Lane countered with her second goal just 19 seconds later to push the Eagles back out to a seven-goal margin.

Clark then connected on three consecutive goals as part of a 5-0 run through the middle stages of the second period. Junior Katie McMahon converted a free-position opporunity that closed the gap to 8-5, then sophomore Katie McGovern assisted junior Megan O'Connor on a goal at 51:39 to allow UC Davis to trim the deficit to 8-6.

Milewski completed her hat trick with 4:20 remaining in the game and the AU defense protected its net for virtually the remainder of the game. McMahon assisted freshman Eri Ichikawa on a goal with 14 ticks on the game lock to bring the score to its 9-7 final.

Aggie goalkeeper Hilary Harkins also aided substantially in her team's comeback effort, posting eight saves in each half. In part because of her net play, the Eagles shot just 6-for-18 in the first half and 3-for-15 after the break.

UC Davis returns to action on Friday, April 7 in a home contest against Stony Brook.

GOALS - UC Davis: Patrice Clark 4, Katie McMahon 1, Megan O'Connor 1, Eri Ichikawa 1. AU: Sarah Milewski 3, Jackie Lane 2, Moriah Linnell 1, Leslie Fischer 1, Brittany Finnegan 1, Laura Barnes 1.

ASSISTS - UC Davis: Katie McGovern 1, Katie McMahon 1. AU: Lauren Aksionoff 2.

GOALIES - UC Davis: Hilary Harkins 16 saves, 9 goals against (60:00). AU: Kathleen Finnegan, 8 saves, 7 goals against (60:00).