April 4, 2007
Kate Lombard scored six times and Rachael Ryan added five goals as Columbia University defeatd the Fairfield University women's lacrosse team 20-10 in New York this afternoon in a non-conference game. The Stags fall to 5-7 overall, while the Lions improve to 4-6.
Fairfield opened a 4-3 lead midway in the first half, after giving up the opening goal. Mary Vallely scored the Stags first goal, at 26:52, and was followed 6:07 later by a Rebecca White tally. The Lions scored twice to rekate the lead, 3-2, but Ashley Chappell and Sarah Masterson scored to take the lead back with 15:25 to play.
Columbia took control of the game at the point, as the Lions scored six unanswered goals over the next 13:30, including three goals from Lombard. Now trailing 9-4, the Stags snapped the scoreless streak with an Abbey Goodwin goal with 72 seconds left in the half. The momentum was taken right back by the host however, as Columbia scored with 12 seconds left in the half to take a 10-5 lead to the lockerroom.
The teams traded goals to start the second half, with Masterson and Rigby both touching net for the Stags, who trailed 12-7 with 26:17 to play. However Columbia unleashed its second 6-0 run of the game, this time over a 15:20 span, to open an 18-7 advantage. Kim Fuchs, at the 9:16 mark, and Chappell, 4:37, cut the lead to nine, before Lombard netted her sixth of the game. Chappell scored with 20 seconds to play for the final margin.
Fairfield captured 15 draw controls in the game, an equal number with the Lions, but had fewer ground balls, 23-20.
Rigby continued her strong play, with a goal and four assists, for a career-best five points. She has had four or more points in each of the lst three games. Masterson had two goals and an assist for the Stags.
Lauren Chatnik started and played 41:38 for the Stags, allowing 13 goals and making four saves. Jessica Parnell saw 18:22 of action and made a save against seven goals allowed.
The Stags will take a week off before hosting Holy Cross at 4 p.m. on April 11.
