Women's Lacrosse Takes Early 2-0 Lead, 20-9 at No. 4 UNC
BOX SCORE
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- Despite an early advantage, University at Albany women's lacrosse (1-2) dropped a 20-9 decision at No. 4 UNC (4-2) on Sunday afternoon. Junior Dakotah Savitcheff led the Great Danes with four goals, netting her 100th career goal in the process.
Julie Cryderman helped UAlbany get out to a good start, winning the first draw control of the contest. Despite an early turnover, Tewaaraton nominee Rachel Bowles forced a turnover to send the Danes downfield. The senior converted on the offensive end unassisted for a 1-0 UAlbany edge.
With the Tar Heels looking to get downfield quickly on the draw, Courtney Henderson made two saves on UNC's first two shots. The Purple & Gold picked up the ground ball and slowed the pace in their attacking zone.
After one push into the crease and a shot and save shortly after, sophomore Emma Powlin got on the board with her first goal of the season for a 2-0 lead.
Carolina responded with a four-goal run to regain control mid-way through the first half. Sierra McIver nearly caused another UNC turnover, but three Tar Heels goals in just over one minute handed Jenny Levy's squad the lead.
Despite a loss in the circle following UNC's fourth goal, Cryderman recovered to force a turnover on the sideline and take possession. Looking to slow the pace again, Powlin hit Dakotah Savitcheff for her first goal of the game to end the Tar Heels scoring spurt.
But the draw control differential began to pile up against the Purple & Gold, as Sarah Martin, Kenzie Neal and Powlin stepped in to face UNC's Sammy Jo Tracy. The Tar Heels netted three more goals for a 7-3 advantage.
Henderson recorded her fourth save of the game to give the Danes a chance to narrow the margin before halftime. Savitcheff made the most of the opportunity with an unassisted tally with 7:26 on the clock.
The Tar Heels queued up three more goals before the half expired, sending the Purple & Gold into the break down 10-4. At halftime, the fourth-ranked team in the land led UAlbany 15-1 in draw controls and 22-7 in shots.
John Battaglino's squad had a window of opportunity as UNC was assessed an early yellow card. On the ensuing shot, Powlin rang the post. The Tar Heels scooped up the ground ball and went the other way to score.
Despite the man-down goal, Savitcheff picked off Tracy following the draw to give UAlbany another shot at cutting down the 11-4 deficit. Levy & co., again thwarted the chance and increased the margin to eight.
With Martin in the circle, the junior won the draw to give the Danes a good look on the cage. After Powlin and Jimerson spread the UNC defense out off the restart, Cryderman connected with Amanda Obenshain for the goal. Obenshain tallied her first point of the season on the goal.
Martin added her name to the scoresheet shortly after. The junior went high-to-low out of the right corner to make the score 12-6 with just under 23 minutes to play. Emily Mizer was credited with the assist on the play, her first of the year.
But the Tar Heels roared back for six unanswered goals to start a running clock. Savitcheff broke a 10-minute scoring drought from Jimerson for her third goal of the day.
Jimerson found the back of the cage courtesy of Kaylee Rickert in the closing moments of the game. Rickert forced a turnover and charged up field with numbers. With the assist, Rickert recorded her first career point as a Great Dane. Savitcheff wrapped up scoring with time ticking down.
Dakotah Savitcheff joined the 100-goal club against the Tar Heels. The junior now has 103 career scores. She is two goals shy of cracking the all-time top-10 in program history.
Next up, UAlbany women's lacrosse hosts Villanova (1-5) on Sunday, March 13 at noon from John Fallon Field.
