Score: UAlbany 12, Fresno State 9
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Records: UAlbany 1-7, Fresno State 5-4
Short story: Four University at Albany players scored more than once, and Emma Powlin had a goal and three assists as the Great Danes defeated Fresno State, 12-9, on Saturday to close out a two-match trip to California.
Key stats
- Freshman midfielder Kendra Harbinger netted a hat trick, giving her seven goals in California this week. She also had two ground balls and three draw controls.
Kaylee Rickert, Paige Werlau and Madison Conway all scored twice for UAlbany.
- Eight UAlbany players finished with at least one point.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Erin Leghart stopped nine shots and finished with a .500 save percentage.
- The Great Danes caused nine turnovers while completing all 15 of their clears.
- Ryleigh Bone led Fresno State with three goals.
Quote
Jessica Davos, interim head coach: "We really needed this win. We finally managed to put together a complete team performance for 60 minutes, and I couldn't be more proud of our kids. The defense made key stops when we needed them to, and the attack was able to get eight different players into the scoring column for the first time. We hope to build on this and continue to improve as we move into conference play next week."
Recap
Behind a hat trick from Kendra Harbinger, two-goal performances from three others and a three-assist evening from Emma Powlin, the University at Albany women's lacrosse team defeated Fresno State, 12-9, on Saturday in its second of two matches in California.
Kaylee Rickert, Paige Werlau and Madison Conway all scored twice for the Great Danes (1-7).
Kyla Zapolski, Bridget Simmons and Powlin also had a goal each in a game UAlbany never trailed after tying the score at 1 with 20 minutes left in the first half.
Powlin helped UAlbany open up a 4-1 lead by dishing assists on three consecutive goals, setting up Werlau, Rickert and Conway. Harbinger added another to put UAlbany up 5-1, and the Great Danes went to halftime ahead, 5-2.
In the second half, Fresno State (5-4), of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, crept within two goals twice before Werlau and Harbinger scored back-to-back goals, making the score 9-5 with 13:39 to play.
Powlin's goal, with 9:18 left, gave UAlbany a 10-6 lead, but the Bulldogs again cut the lead to two, 10-8, with 6:15 remaining.
Kyla Zapolski scored with 4:47 left to give UAlbany an 11-8 edge, and the Great Danes held off one more Fresno State challenge when Conway's second goal closed out the scoring with 58 seconds left.
Up next
UAlbany opens America East play when it hosts Hartford at noon Saturday at Casey Stadium.
