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Delaware 8, #19 George Mason 7
April 11, 2002

Blue Hens Rally to Snap Losing Skid

Becky Zane had a goal and an assist for Delaware

NEWARK, DE - The University of Delaware rallied to score the final five goals of the game, including the game-winner from senior Corinne Shuck (Broadneck/Annapolis, MD) with 5:34 left to play, as the Blue Hens snapped out of a long losing skid to upset No. 19 George Mason 8-7 in a Colonial Athletic Association women's lacrosse game Thursday night at Rullo Stadium.

The Blue Hens, frustrated by a school-record eight-game losing streak in which it lost five games by two goals or less, finally got back on the winning side as they rallied from a 7-3 deficit with 23:40 left to play to post the win. Delaware, which won its first game since an 11-10 win over Rutgers March 13, defeated their first Top 20 opponent since a 10-8 triumph over No. 12 Vanderbilt during the 2000 season.

Shuck and junior Nikki Kucharski (Cherry Creek/Englewood, CO) each scored two goals for the Blue Hens, who improved to 3-9 (2-5) and stayed alive for a berth in the upcoming six-team CAA tournament. The Blue Hens need for both Hofstra to lose to Loyola Friday and then defeat Hofstra themselves Sunday afternoon to earn the sixth and final slot in the tournament, which will be held April 19-21 in Richmond, VA.

Delaware senior goalkeeper Laurie Tortorelli (Haverford/Havertown, PA) was tough in goal, posting 12 saves to earn the victory. Also for the Hens, sophomore Becky Zane (Garnet Valley/Glen Mills, PA) added a goal and an assist. Shuck also had an assist for UD.

George Mason suffered its third straight loss to fall to 5-5, 4-3 CAA despite getting three goals from junior attack Jill Toomey (Broadneck/Annapolis, MD). Senior Katie Ruch (Phoenixville, PA HS) added a goal and an assist and Lisa Hagan (Collingswood, NJ HS) dished out two assists.

The two teams battled to a 3-3 halftime deadlock with the the Hens scoring the final two goals of the stanza as Brooke Mulligan and Kucharski each converted in the final four minutes.

The Patriots took control early in the second half as they scored four unanswered goals to open the half, including two straight by Toomey within a span of one minute and 38 seconds, to take a 7-3 advantage with 23:40 left.

But it was all Delaware after that as Shuck broke a 12-minute scoring drought with a goal at the 18:32 mark, Zane followed with a goal two minutes later, and Michelle Campolettano converted with 13:20 left to cut the margin to 7-6.

The Hens tied the score at 7-7 on a goal by Kucharski with 8:29 remaining before Shuck delivered the game-winner, her team high 27th goal of the season, with just 5:34 remaining. George Mason had appeared to tie the game with 3:46 left, but a goal by Susie Craig was disallowed due to an illegal stick.

AGATE:

George Mason............3.........4..........7
Delaware...................3.........5.........8

Team Statistics

Goals: George Mason - Jill Toomey-3, Susie Craig, Katie Ruch, Shannon O'Donnell, Stacy Bergerl Delaware &endash; Corinne Shuck - 2, Nikki Kucharski -2, Erin Edell, Brooke Mulligan, Michelle Campolettano, Becky Zane

Assists: George Mason - Lisa Hagan-2, Katie Ruch; Delaware - Shannon Kron, Corinne Shuck, Becky Zane

Saves: George Mason - 12 (Meg Dentler, 60 min., 8 goals, 12 saves); Delaware - 12 (Laurie Tortorelli, 60 min., 7 goals, 12 saves)

Shots: George Mason - 25, Delaware - 18; Groundballs: George Mason - 26, Delaware - 12; Draw Controls: George Mason - 7, Delaware - 8; Caused Turnovers: George Mason - 10, Delaware - 4; Attendance: 250

 

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