March 8, 2007
Gators Bite Shorewomen, 13-12
Ruppert Tallies Three Goals, Two Assists in Loss

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- Visiting College of Notre Dame held off a pair of second-half rallies from host Washington College en route to a 13-12 women's lacrosse victory this afternoon on Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium. The Gators, who improved to 2-0 with the win, got eight goals from Anne Shippen.

Washington (1-2) never led in the game but tied the score after each of the Gators' first three goals of the game. Notre Dame then scored three straight goals to take a 6-3 lead and held an 8-6 advantage at halftime.

The Shorewomen cut the lead to one goal early in the second half when junior midfielder Jenna Gouck (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) scored off a feed from senior midfielder Melanie Ruppert (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) with 28:27 remaining. The Gators answered with three consecutive goals, the third coming at 16:08 when Tina Money scored off an assist from Ashley Demski, to push the lead to 11-7.

Ruppert then scored back-to-back unassisted goals with 11:41 and 10:01 on the clock, respectively, and found Gouck for a goal with 8:53 remaining to trim the margin to 11-10. Shippen quickly answered for the Gators, scoring on a free-position shot with 8:38 to play and an unassisted goal with 6:29 remaining to extend the lead to 13-10.

Washington junior midfielder Alli Luchey (Bel Air, MD/Bel Air) netted a goal at 5:07 and junior attacker Megan Rainey (Severna Park, MD/Archbishop Spalding) found sophomore attacker Suzie Jakub (University Park, MD/St. John's College, DC) for a goal at 2:05 to again cut the lead to one at 13-12.

Notre Dame's Sara Breidenbaugh won the ensuing draw. Washington regained possession three times in the final two minutes, but could not get a shot off. Catherine Vecchioni recorded a caused turnover and ground ball for the Gators with 16 seconds left and Notre Dame ran out the clock to hold on for the win.

Shippen scored her eight goals on just 12 shots and made all three of her free position shots. She also tallied a game-high six draw controls. Money added two goals and assist, while Amelia Yatto and Breidenbaugh each had one goal and one assist. Demski finished with a pair of assists for the Gators. Amanda Arkwright made 16 saves in goal for Notre Dame.

Ruppert scored three goals and had two assists for Washington, while Gouck and junior attacker Caitlin Beane (University Park, MD/Elizabeth Seton) netted three goals each. Jakub scored two goals, while sophomore midfielder Brittany Lambert (Riva, MD/South River) had a pair of assists and Luchey finished with one goal and one assist. Junior defender Lindsay Fox (Laurel, MD/Atholton) recorded a game-high six caused turnovers for the Shorewomen to go along with one assist. Senior goalie Mollie Binotto (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair) made 10 saves in goal for the Shorewomen.

Washington held a 35-28 advantage in shots in the game and a 29-24 edge in ground balls and committed eight fewer turnovers than Notre Dame (24 to the Gators' 32). Notre Dame won 16 of the game's 27 draws, including 10 of 12 in the second half. The Gators also converted four of nine free position shots, while the Shorewomen converted just one of two.

The Shorewomen return to action Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. home game against Trinity (DC).

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