Rachel Bowles Reigns as UAlbany All-Time Scoring Leader in Toe-to-Toe Loss to No. 4 Syracuse
BOX SCORE
ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany women's lacrosse (7-4) clawed back from a three-goal deficit on two occasions on Tuesday afternoon, but No. 4 Syracuse (12-3) used its advantage at the draw control circle to emerge victorious, 8-7. Tuesday's result marks the closest margin in the all-time series against the Orange.
“We had the momentum there at the end, and a late call allowed Syracuse to adjust defensively; but I was proud of our kids and the way we fought back,” said head coach John Battaglino. “We've come a long way in the last two or three games, and to be right there at the end was a really good sign for us moving forward.”
In what was slated to be a homecoming for Niskayuna native and two-time Tewaaraton finalist Kayla Treanor, Julie Cryderman stole the first two draw controls of the game to allow UAlbany to set up offensively. Taking their time looking for the right shot, the Great Danes let the clock wind down without losing focus on a good shot in the eight-meter arc. Alie Jimerson stepped up from behind the cage to hit Julie Cryderman for a 1-0 UAlbany edge. Less than three minutes later, Cryderman found the back of the net down the middle on an assist from Sarah Martin.
Syracuse saw its first offensive possession with just under 10 minutes gone in the first half. Courtney Henderson stopped a Riley Donahue shot, and Martin scooped up the ground ball to head downfield. On the way, Syracuse's second-leading offensive player Halle Majorana picked up a yellow card. Martin continued on for the good clear, but Majorana made good on a free position pass from Nicole Levy to make the score 2-1.
Despite winning two-straight draws, Gary Gait's squad couldn't hold on to the ball. Cryderman looked to take advantage mid-way through the half, but three straight shots resulted in a ring of the post, one save and one blocked attempt. After more back-and-forth, Levy wound up to tie the game at two, scoring the first goal for either team in 10 minutes.
The Orange cashed in at the eight-meter mark to carry a 3-2 lead into halftime. UAlbany out-shot Syracuse 12-8 in the opening 30 minutes, had fewer turnovers and held the nation's best draw control squad to three wins at the center circle.
With Halle Majorana ejected after her second yellow card mid-way through the first half, Syracuse rallied to make it a five-goal unanswered run early in the second. The Great Danes regrouped to tie the game with 18 minutes to play, courtesy of a solid defensive effort. Sierra McIver took a charge at the hands of Treanor to clear the way for an Alie Jimerson goal from Kaylee Rickert, closing the gap to 5-3.
Sarah Martin caused her third turnover of the contest moments after the next draw control. The junior quickly transitioned from defense to offense, firing unassisted to bring the Great Danes within one, 5-4 with 20 minutes on the clock.
UAlbany once again made good on a Syracuse turnover to tie the game at five, as Martin picked up the ground ball in Great Danes territory to set up a goal-scoring opportunity. Rachel Bowles drove through three defenders to score unassisted, her 161st career goal and 23rd of the season. The score made the graduate student the UAlbany all-time career goals holder.
With the momentum swinging UAlbany's way, Treanor dominated at the circle to build a three-goal cushion for Syracuse. After winning the draw following an 8-5 lead, the Orange appeared poised to run out the clock after two shots by Martin and Katherine Sweeney.
But late-game execution proved crucial, and the Orange stumbled with 4:06 on the clock. Syracuse lined up for a free position shot; instead of pulling the ball out to milk more clock, the Orange went for goal. Henderson made the stop, the Purple & Gold cleared, and the underclassmen tandem of Jimerson and Rickert brought the Danes within two, 8-6 with four minutes to play.
On the ensuing draw, Dakotah Savitcheff recovered to clip the ball away from Syracuse. Battaglino called timeout in his own end to draw up the play, and Rachel Heidenreich came off the bench to score her sixth goal of the year from Martin.
Down 8-7 with two minutes to play, Emily Mizer forced a turnover and gave the Danes 50 seconds to work with and tie the game. UAlbany ran out of time against the fourth-ranked Orange.
The Purple & Gold committed a season-low seven turnovers, while the Great Danes allowed a season-low 15 shots on goal for the No. 4 Orange. Jimerson and Martin finished with three points apiece, with Henderson made seven saves between the pipes. Martin rounded out her performance on Tuesday with a career-high six ground balls; career-best three caused turnovers and two draw controls.
Next up, UAlbany women's lacrosse (7-4, 3-0 AE) returns to conference play against UMass Lowell (1-12, 0-4 AE) on Saturday, April 16 at 4:00 p.m. The Great Danes will honor their seniors in a pre-game ceremony at Spring Stomp from Casey Stadium.
