ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Saturday, May 3, 2008

FDU-Florham Edges Etown 15-14 in MAC Finals

Click here for the box score

MADISON, N.J. --- Tournament Most Valuable Player Lindsey Specht scored five goals, including what would be the game-winner with 2:29 remaining in the second half, as FDU-Florham defeated Elizabethtown College 15-14 in the Middle Atlantic Conference championship match on Saturday afternoon.

Specht's fifth goal of the day gave the Devils (16-2 overall) a 15-13 lead, but the Blue Jays (11-5 overall) pulled back within a goal as junior Katie Foley (Palmyra, NJ/Holy Cross) scored her fifth goal with 1:11 left. The Blue Jays controlled the ensuing draw, but turned the ball over on an offensive foul with less than 30 seconds left and the Devils ran out the clock.

With the victory, FDU-Florham advances to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in program history. Elizabethtown will learn on Sunday whether they receive an at-large bid to the tournament.

FDU scored four straight goals to take an early 4-1 lead, but Elizabethtown fought back to force a 9-9 tie at intermission. The Devils took the lead for good at 11-10 on a goal by Erin Reilly with 21:24 remaining, and held a 14-11 lead with 8:33 left following Specht's fourth goal of the day.

The Blue Jays, making their first-ever appearance in the MAC title game, closed within 14-13 on goals by sophomore Stephanie Kreis (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll School) with 7:51 left and junior Anna Ford (Salisbury, MD/Homeschooled) with 4:16 to go.

Sophomore Megan Byrnes (Lutherville, MD/Towson) tallied three goals for the Blue Jays, while sophomore Alisha Sangrey (Columbia, PA/Hempfield) and first-year student Sarah Cullinan (West Chester, PA/East) each recorded two goals and an assist.

Kristen Schuster scored three goals off the bench for the Devils, and Linda Bohn and Laura Gambardello scored twice each for FDU-Florham.

Elizabethtown finished with a 40-34 edge in shots over FDU-Florham, and picked up 19 ground balls to 11 by the Devils.

Foley and Kreis shared the team lead for the Blue Jays with five ground balls, and Foley led with five draw controls. Stefanie Sanzari had a team-high four ground balls for FDU, while Wayne led the way with five draw controls.

Junior Jenn Hawkins (Havre de Grace, MD/Havre de Grace) made 11 saves in goal for Elizabethtown, while Christine Dunn tallied 13 stops for FDU-Florham.

Score by period 1 2 Tot
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Elizabethtown Coll.. 9 5 - 14
FDU-Florham......... 9 6 - 15

Elizabethtown Coll. GOALS: Katie Foley 5; Megan Byrnes 3; Sarah Cullinan 2; Alisha Sangrey 2; Stephanie Kreis 1; Anna Ford 1.
ASSISTS: Katie Foley 2; Sarah Cullinan 1; Kelsea Kozak 1; Alisha Sangrey 1.

FDU-Florham GOALS: Lindsey Specht 5; Kristen Schuster 3; Laura Gambardello 2; Linda Bohn 2; Amanda Wayne 1; Lindsey Parent 1; Erin Reilly 1.
ASSISTS: Laura Gambardello 1; Lindsey Parent 1; Amanda Wayne 1.

SHOTS - ETOWN 40; FDU 34.

GOALIES - ETOWN: Jenn Hawkins (11 saves); FDU: Christine Dunn (13 saves).