Women's Lacrosse Comes Back From Early 5-0 Deficit, Falls at No. 20 UMass
BOX SCORE
AMHERST, MASS. – University at Albany women's lacrosse (3-3) fell victim to a hot team on its home turf in No. 20 UMass (7-1) on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 13-7. Rachel Bowles led the way offensively for the Great Danes with three goals.
The Great Danes started slow on the offensive end as UMass jumped out to a 5-0 lead less than 15 minutes in. Sarah Martin and Dakotah Savitcheff notched UAlbany's best looks initially, but costly turnovers kept the Purple & Gold without the ball early.
The Minutewomen recorded nine shots to UAlbany's three to start the game, but the tides began to turn as the defense stepped up to force turnovers. Martin didn't give up on a lost possession near midfield at the 16-minute mark, and her effort paid dividends with the first Danes goal of the game. Alie Jimerson hit Rachel Bowles in transition for the tally.
Martin along with Alexis Drumm and Andrea Flood stood in the way of UMass in the fan, forcing the Minutewomen to cough up the ball on consecutive possessions. Eventually, Rachel Bowles made her way to free position territory to cut the advantage to three goals, 5-2.
UMass responded with two unanswered goals as the Purple & Gold reverted to costly turnovers in its offensive half. Martin scooped up a draw control late in the half, and was rewarded on a pass from Powlin at the edge of the crease. Rolling around her defender, Martin scored for her third goal of the year.
Less than one minute later, John Battaglino's squad narrowed the margin to three as Powlin dove down the middle to find the back of the cage. Her goal from Katherine Sweeney matched the total goal count from last season's meeting between the teams with two minutes left in the first half.
UMass got one back, but Jimerson hit Savitcheff off a tough angle behind the cage to maintain the three-goal deficit 8-5 headed into the break.
After starting the game with a 9-3 edge in shots for UMass, the Great Danes evened out the gap in shots and draw controls by the end of the period. The Minutewomen held a 14-13 advantage in shots and 8-6 margin in draw controls. UAlbany went without a turnover for 10 minutes to end the first half.
Despite the momentum to end the opening stanza, UAlbany saw UMass score two quick goals to kick off the second period. Savitcheff got one back on a free position shot with 22 minutes remaining in the contest.
Bowles once again came knocking on an unassisted tally with 13:16 on the clock, narrowing the UMass lead to 11-7. The Great Danes looked to control tempo and momentum with a UMass turnover, but Martin was carded on what was deemed a dangerous free position shot with 11 minutes to play. Kaylee Rickert picked up a second yellow card moments later to give the Minutewomen more breathing room.
Courtney Henderson made six saves in the loss. Bowles topped UAlbany scorers with three goals, while Alie Jimerson (two assists), Emma Powlin (one goal, one assist) and Dakotah Savitcheff (two goals) recorded two points apiece. Savitcheff extends her multi-goal scoring streak to five games.
Next up, UAlbany women's lacrosse opens America East play at Vermont (3-5) under the lights of Virtue Field on Saturday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m.
