Women's Lacrosse Rips Alvernia in Season Opener
Katrina Kelly scored three points on a goal and two assists for the Pacers

Women's Lacrosse Rips Alvernia in Season Opener

Women's Lacrosse - 2/25/2017 2:02:00 PM

Box Score Box Score

Scranton, Pa. – Marywood University trounced Alvernia University 19-9 to open up its women's lacrosse season Saturday. The Pacers opened up the game by scoring seven of the first eight goals of the game.

Ashley Valway led the Pacers with six goals and an assist for seven points. Sam Bussinelli matched a career high of eight points on four goals and four assists.

Marywood ends a four-game skid against Alvernia University that included a 12-goal loss last season. It is the Pacers' first win over the Maroon and Gold since their inaugural 2008.

Lauren Smith tied the school record with her 25th career victory. She also set the new school record for career for minutes played by a goalkeeper. Smith pushed away 11 shots and allowed nine.

Gina Babcock kicked off her career with two goals and an assist. Katrina Kelly and Erin Healy each provided a goal and two assists.

Natalie Burke tallied a pair of goals.

Defensively, Michaela DiLorenzo and Haley Risi each caused three turnovers and gathered three ground balls apiece.

Marywood took off to a 7-1 lead in the first 22 minutes. Valway opened the game with an unassisted netter 80 seconds into the contest. Bussinelli and Healy each scored to give the Pacers an early 3-0 lead.

Alvernia did not put a point on the scoreboard until Abby McCarthy's free position shot at the 23:13 mark.

Babcock posted a woman-up goal with 8:47 left in the half to extend the Pacers' lead to 7-1. Alvernia showed life late in the half with three goals to trim the deficit to 9-4 at the break.

The Maroon and Gold made things interesting with three consecutive goals by Brooke Campione, Alysone Keene, and Bridget Reynolds to bring the visitors within four (13-9) with 12 minutes remaining.

Marywood's defense held Alvernia scoreless the rest of the way while putting up six unanswered goals. Valway opened up the run with three-straight goals of her own, including a woman-down tally at 5:45 left. Gwyneth Gleason one-timed a shot against her momentum off of a Valway assist at 3:48. Twenty one seconds later, Burke put the mustard on a shot that sailed past the keeper to extend the lead to 18-9. Valway ignited the running clock with 96 seconds remaining in the contest.

Alvernia held onto a 24-23 advantage in ground balls. The Pacers outshot the visitors by a 28-24 margin.

It was a rematch of the 2012 ECAC championship game.

The Pacers travel to Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. on Wednesday. 
 
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