Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. -- A potent 10-goal second frame helped Lehigh University past the University of Delaware, 12-11, in the Blue Hens’ 2010 women’s lacrosse season opener at Rullo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Lehigh (2-0 overall) outshot Delaware (0-1 overall) 20-11 in the second half to outscore UD, 10-6, and make-up for a 5-2 deficit at the half. Nearing an extra period, the Mountain Hawks netted the game-winner with just five seconds lingering on the clock to finalize all scoring, 12-11.

Lehigh led the game with 18 ground balls to Delaware’s 11, and 17 draw controls to the Hens’ eight, though the home squad better took care of the ball, as the Mountain Hawks also led the turnover ratio, 12-6.

Delaware opened the game in commanding fashion to lead 4-1 at the 15-minute mark. Sophomore midfielder Stephanie Allen netted the game’s first goal at 24:27 on a Morgan Marino assist. The Mountain Hawks’ responded at 23:15 with one of their own, before junior midfielder Julianna Jeffers and Allen combined for three scores to solidify a three-goal cushion.

Jeffers (top right) answered Lehigh’s goal just 55 seconds later on an assist from senior attack Courtney Aburn, before Allen and Jeffers went unassisted at 17:32 and 15:06, respectively. Lehigh’s Allison Thomas responded with a free-position goal at 12:49 to bring the Mountain Hawks within two, but a Jeffers’ score with merely 19 seconds on the clock closed out the first stint in Delaware’s favor, 5-2.

Lehigh’s senior attack Inneke Carmola opened the second half with a free-position goal at 27:28, but the Blue Hens answered with back-to-back goals to take the largest lead of the game. UD’s junior attack Corrine Drost was unassisted at 26:26 before assisting Marino, a senior attackman, at 25:14, helping UD lead by four, 7-3.

The Mountain Hawks neared knotting the game by tallying three consecutive goals, but Delaware responded with three of their own to lead 10-6 at 20:32.

A flurry of goals, six in less than four minutes, was kicked off by Lehigh’s sophomore attack Kelly Draper at 24:23. Teammate Lauren Dykstra tallied the next two just 20 seconds apart to again bring the Mountain Hawks within one.

Drost capitalized on a free position shot at 21:49 before Marino (bottom left) fed junior midfielder Ali Libertini for a three-goal advantage. Aburn then secured a free-position goal at 20:32 to reinstate a four-goal lead before Lehigh took control of the game.

Lehigh would score six of the final seven goals to hand the Hens a heartbreaking loss in their home and season openers. Dykstra netted her third consecutive Lehigh goal before Megan Kelly used a Draper pass to score at 15:59. Carmola continued Lehigh’s success at 13:42 to bring the game within one, but it was a Thomas free-position goal that brought the game to a 10-10 draw at 11:04.

Delaware regained the lead as senior midfielder Emily Schaknowski fed Marino at 8:26 for the Hens’ last score of the game.

The tandem of Thomas and Draper again tied the game with 4:34 remaining in regulation, this time in a man-down situation. Lehigh controlled much of the final minutes of play enabling sophomore attach Lauren Murray to net her first goal of the season with just five seconds on the clock to secure the visitor victory.

Delaware’s Makenzie Worthington played all 60 minutes in goal and stopped a game-high 12 shots, but took the loss, while Lehigh’s Kelsy Ferris made seven saves to collect the win.

Jeffers led UD with three goals, while Marino contributed a pair of goals and assists. Drost won a game-high four draw controls and freshman attack Brittany Griel added team-highs of three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Thomas and Dykstra also each netted three goals with Thomas adding an assist. Dykstra also scooped up a game-high four ground balls, while four Mountain Hawks tallied three draw control wins a piece.

Delaware will hit the road to return to action on March 3 at Saint Joseph’s (Pa.) at 4 p.m.


AGATE:

Delaware......5.....6.............11
Lehigh.........2.....10...........12

Scoring Summary:
Delaware - Jeffers 3 goals-0 assists; Marino 2-2; Drost 2-1; Allen 2-0; Aburn 1-1; Libertini 1-0; Schaknowski 0-1.
Lehigh - Thomas 3-1; Dykstra 3-0; Carmola 2-0; Draper 1-2; Patterson 1-0; Murray 1-0; Kelly 1-0.

Shots: Delaware - 24, Lehigh - 34; Groundballs: UD - 11, LEHIGH - 18; Draw Controls: UD - 8, JHU - 17; Clears: UD 8-11, LEHIGH 8-13; Fouls: UD - 30, LEHIGH - 14; Saves: UD - 12 (Worthington); LEHIGH - 7 (Ferris); Turnovers: UD - 6, LEHIGH - 12; Attendance: 203.