The Division II no. 4 ranked Le Moyne women’s lacrosse team wasted no time getting back to its winning ways this past weekend disposing St. Michael’s 19-3 Saturday afternoon and Molloy 13-3 late Sunday morning at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex to improve its mark to 6-1.
Just before that, the Dolphins’ four-game winning streak was snapped last Wednesday when No. 1 Adelphi University visited and defeated its upstate foe 11-9 in blizzard-like conditions.
Despite the snow, the competition was just as one would expect for two nationally ranked Division II opponents – fought to the bitter end. After it was done, head coach (and Liverpool High School graduate) Beth Hewitt noted that it was crucial to see how her team would respond to such an exhausting game.
“There had been so much build up with Adelphi and us from everyone,” Hewitt said. “I think just emotionally and physically — obviously being drained from that weather– we just wanted the girls to come out and respond well, have a lot of energy and play hard.”
The Dolphins did just that, outscoring its opponents 32-6 in its next two games.
In a Northeast-10 conference matchup against St. Michael’s(1-5, 0-2), Le Moyne’s offense put on a scoring blitz, starting just 20 seconds into the game with sophomore attacker Brenna Bauer (Brighton) finding the back of the net on a pass by Brittany Brigandi (CBA). On the next play, Bauer found a curling Michelle Phillips (Maine-Endwell) near the crease, and Phillips scored for a 2-0 lead.
The Purple Knights would come as close as 2-1 before the Dolphins would reel off 10 consecutive goals to go into halftime with a 12-1 lead.
The Dolphins increased its lead with a game-high 16 goals finding the net five times over the opening 12:11 of the second half. After winning the first draw control of the half, Rebekah Elmer (West Genesee) got the ball back from Phillips to record her 95th career goal, 12th-best total in the program’s history.
Less than two minutes later, scoring contributions were accounted from Mia Valletta (Niskayuna) Brigandi, Nerissa Barzee (Baldwinsville) and Kelly Condon (Victor). Another West Genesee grad, goalie Kelly Fucillo, would record three saves on the day.
Despite the abundance of goals and out shooting the Purple Knights 40-10, Hewitt noted better shooting efficiency is vital.
“If you look on our shots on goal percentage right now it’s not great,” Hewitt said, “We are putting ourselves in the position to win every game, but now we have to be more efficient, we’ve got to finish and not take every shot for granted. Every shot you take should be going in.”
Le Moyne converted 47.5 percent of its shots on cage. Free position shots were hard to come by, too, converting just two of nine on the day.
“Even in the Adelphi game, we had 16 eight-meters and made four,” Hewitt said. “Right there is where we lost the game, nowhere else.”
In Sunday’s game versus Molloy (4-2), it was the Dolphins’ defense that held an explosive Lions’ offense to just three goals. Before its 13-3 rout, the Lions averaged just under 18 goals a game.
“We play better going out and being aggressive,” Hewitt said. “It’s the mojo of this team. When we go out and get after people – even if we are getting some of those fouls – it motivates us a little bit more from the defense through the midfield through the attack, it’s something we kind of found out through the personnel we have.”
Brigandi led Le Moyne with four goals on Sunday morning. After going scoreless for the first 5:26 of the game, the Dolphins scored three times in a span of 90 seconds. Valletta, Phillips, Elmer and Brigandi got in on the scoring action to lift the lead to 4-0.
After the Lions cut it to 4-1 on Alexa Toscano’s goal, Brigandi would earn her third goal at the 8:17 mark after a Molloy foul.
Then the Dolphins would come out of the half and put an exclamation on the game scoring the first five goals to extend a double-digit lead. Phillips, Kaitlin Walker (Penn Yan), Condon, Victoria Nies (Jamesville-DeWitt) and Stephanie Dussing (Bishop Ludden) would all score during the second half.
“Our defense played the best whole game that they’ve played all year,” Hewitt said. “They definitely lead us.
“With them going out and getting after the girls and just having solid team defense, we were able to take Molloy out of their comfort zone. I did not expect to hold them to hold them to three goals.”
One of those defenders, Walker, made a difference in both games. Walker netted three goals, scooped up two ground balls and made a difference on the draw control circle with six.
“I think she really energizes everyone,” Hewitt said, “Going back to talking about our defense, we play well when we are getting out and getting after people, and I think it starts with her. When she is in her zone of going and not being afraid to take challenges, she can ignite us.”
Le Moyne would return to action on Tuesday at Assumption, looking for its third win in a row.
