April 20, 2008

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Seniors Katie McMahon and Katie McGovern and sophomore Olivia Jarem each scored three goals as UC Davis battled Saint Mary's to a 14-13 victory in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women's lacrosse action at Aggie Stadium Sunday.

The Aggies pick up their first conference win, improving to 6-10 overall and 1-4 in MPSF play. The Gaels fall to 2-13 for the year and remain winless in league at 0-4.

Sophomore attacker Abbie Coleman posted two goals with a game-high four assists for Saint Mary's, while sophomore Alana Burrough and junior Dana Elfvin each performed hat tricks to lead the Gaels in the scoring column.

UC Davis ran up a 5-1 lead during the first 21 minutes of play with McMahon and McGovern each scoring two goals in that stretch. But SMC midfielder P.J. Hainley helped her team battle back, scoring two goals in the final four minutes of the period - including a goal with four seconds remaining -- cutting the Aggie lead to 6-5 at the halftime break. The Gaels tied the game after the opening draw on Chloe Dee's unassisted goal, then took their first lead when Burrough hit her eight-meter attempt at the 31:32 mark.

The Aggies knotted the score at 7-7 when Patrice Clark assisted McGovern on a fast-break opportunity, then sophomore Molly Lapolla converted an eight-meter shot at the 35-minute mark to put UC Davis up by an 8-7 edge. This began a pattern that continued for the remainder of the game: Saint Mary's tied the score, the Aggies took a one-goal lead, then the Gaels answered back to re-tie the game.

Elfvin's goal with 7:06 remaining put the score at 13-13, the contest's eight straight tie. McGovern won the subsequent draw, and the Aggies had two eight-meter opportunities in their attacking third. Those two chances resulted in a saved shot and a turnover, but UC Davis freshman Jacklyn Taylor quickly interrupted the Gael possession with her steal at 54:40. This set the stage for Aggie freshman Christina Corsa, who had missed on two previous eight-meter chances, to redeem herself with a final go-ahead goal.

Trailing 14-13, Saint Mary's had possession in its attacking end with less than three minutes remaining, but freshman Rachael Martinez knocked down a Burrough pass, then flipped the loose ball to Aggie goalie Hilary Harkins. This allowed UC Davis to enter a clock-management mode, protecting its one-goal lead for the last two minutes of play.

The Gaels won nine of the 12 draws in the first half, and three of the first four in the second to help match the Aggies' scoring output.

Harkins finished the game with just five saves, but registered eight ground balls and three caused turnovers to lead UC Davis defensively. Defender Ranessa Santos also enjoyed one of her best games of the year, posting five ground balls and three steals.

Sunday's game served as the career home finale for seven Aggie seniors, namely McGovern, McMahon, Harkins, Santos, Megan Miller and defenders Tarryn Furr and Melissa Mahoney, the latter two of whom had suffered season-ending injuries earlier in the year.

UC Davis returns to action at the MPSF Championship in Berkeley, Calif. on May 2-4.

GOALS - SMC: Alana Burrough 3, Dana Elfvin 3, Abbie Coleman 2, P.J. Hainley 2, Chloe Dee 2, Lauren Frei 1. UC Davis: Katie McMahon 3, Katie McGovern 3, Olivia Jarem 3, Jacklyn Taylor 2, Christina Corsa 1, Molly Lapolla 1, Gina Hoffmire 1.

ASSISTS - SMC: Abbie Coleman 4, Alana Burrough 1. UC Davis: Patrice Clark 1, Christina Corsa 1, Katie McMahon 1, Gina Hoffmire 1.

GOALIES - SMC: Hilary Gardner 5 saves, 14 goals against (60:00). UC Davis: Hilary Harkins 5 saves, 13 goals against (60:00).