March 29, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 9/10 Irish women’ lacrosse team scored five unanswered goals in the second period to rally past No. 13/13 Loyola (Md.), 16-13, Sunday afternoon at the Loftus Sports Center.
Notre Dame improved to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in BIG EAST play with the win.
Gina Scioscia led the Irish with a career-high six goals during the match. Jillian Byers added three goals and an assist, while Shaylyn Blaney chipped in three goals. Kailene Abt notched two goals and one assist, Kaitlin Keena added one goal and one assist, Ansley Stewart had one goal and Jackie Doherty produced one assist.
Grace Gavin led Loyola with four goals and one assist. Mary Heneberry added three goals, while Abby Rehfuss totaled two goals and one assist. Elizabeth Weber, Cara Filippelli, Meg Taylor and Emily Gibson each added one goal, while Maura Kenny chipped in one assist.
Abt put the Irish on the board first just 48 seconds into the game. Rehfuss answered quickly for Loyola, but Keena gave the Irish a 2-1 lead with 25:14 left in the first period. Gavin tied the match at 2-2 with 20:50 left and sparked a 5-0 Loyola run.
Blaney stopped the run and cut the Loyola lead to 6-3 with 12:56 left. The Irish ended the first period on a 4-1 run, as Loyola took an 8-7 lead into the break.
Gavin scored first in the second period, putting Loyola up 9-7. Blaney scored with 23:17 left and started a 5-0 Irish run. Notre Dame went up 12-9 and never relinquished the lead.
Rehfuss halted the Irish spark with a goal for Loyola with 11:46 left. Blaney, Scioscia and Abt all found the net as the Irish took a 15-10 lead with 7:47 left in the game.
Heneberry and Gavin scored to pull Loyola within two, but Scioscia put the game away with 4:13 left. Weber scored with 38 seconds left to make the final score 16-13.
Erin Goodman got the win for Notre Dame in the goal, notching 11 saves in 60:00. Meg Steffe took the loss for Loyola, allowing 13 goals with 14 saves in 49:30 of play.
The Irish will travel to Cincinnati Friday for a 4:00 p.m. matchup.
–ND–