March 7, 2007

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Senior midfielder Shannon Burke scored two goals with a game-high six assists to help Connecticut hold onto a 13-9 win over UC Davis in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Aggie Field Wednesday. The Huskies led by as much as 11-4 early in the second period before the Aggies scored five of six in a valiant comeback effort.

UC Davis drops to 2-4 for the season. UConn, member of the Big East Conference, improves to 3-1 overall.

Junior Katie McGovern and freshmen Molly Peterson and Molly Lapolla each had two goals for the Aggies. Senior Megan O'Connor added a goal and led UC Davis with four assists. Sophomore Patrice Clark contributed a goal and two assists, all in her team's second-half run.

For the Huskies, Whitney Michele chipped in three goals and an assist. Goalkeeper Jenna Moulton protected her net with eight saves in nearly 55 minutes of play.

Both teams traded goals during the early going as O'Connor assisted three different scores during the first 15 minutes of play. Connecticut has an answer for each, then took a 5-3 lead with 8:40 left in the first half on Laura Trzasko's transition goal. O'Connor then scored a goal of her own, converting a pass from Alden Monger to trim the deficit to 5-4. Burke helped send her team into the intermission with a two-goal lead, scoring an unassisted goal at the 28:47 mark.

The Huskies quickly extended their lead to 11-4 early in the second period. Burke had a goal and three assists in a 4-0 UConn run that spanned less than three minutes of play. The Aggies began to cut into the lead, first on Lapolla's goal at 41:12, then again on Monger's goal at the 43:38.

After Michele added another goal to put the Huskies up by 12-6, UC Davis scored a rapid flurry of goals to approach to a 12-9 deficit. McGovern hit her eight-meter shot with 5:12 remaining for the Aggies' seventh goal. Clark scored on an unassisted drive with 4:10 on the clock, and hit a cutting Peterson with 3:09 left to bring UC Davis within three.

UConn defender Clare Schwan won the next draw and Michele completed her hat trick at the 57:36 to close out the scoring for the game.

UC Davis outshot its guest by a 32-25 margin, including 19-13 in the second half. The Aggies also won 13 of the 24 draws and committed just seven turnovers after the halftime break.

The Aggies return to action on Monday for a home against Iona, the team's fourth opponent from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this season. Gametime is 3 p.m.

GOALS - UConn: Kim McGinty 4, Whitney Michele 3, Shannon Burke 2, Kristin Link 1, Laura Trzasko 1, Kati Kasch 1, Tori Joel 1. UC Davis: Katie McGovern 2, Molly Peterson 2, Molly Lapolla 2, Megan O'Connor 1, Patrice Clark 1, Alden Monger 1.

ASSISTS - UConn: Shannon Burke 6, Whitney Michele 1, Robyn Pastuch 1. UC Davis: Megan O'Connor 4, Patrice Clark 2, Alden Monger 1.

GOALIES - UConn: Jenna Moulton 8 saves, 7 goals against (54:48), Amanda Wilson 2 saves, 2 goals against (5:12). UC Davis: Hilary Harkins 6 saves, 13 goals against (60:00).