“Women’s Lacrosse Loses to No. 1 Adelphi By One”

Last updated on Apr 10, 2016

By Thomas Scavetta
Assistant Sports Editor

All winning streaks eventually come to an end and the women’s lacrosse team is no exception. The fourth-ranked Pioneers (7-2) lost in a nail-biter against topranked Adelphi University (8-0) on Saturday, April 2, at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, N.Y.

The loss ended the Pioneers six game-winning streak. Trailing 2-0 in the early stages of the contest, the Pioneers defense stepped up and kept them in the game throughout majority of the first half. Eventually, senior attacker Emily Delaney chipped the deficit in half with a goal at the 20:04 mark of the opening half for the Green and Gold. Delaney’s goal would round out the first 30 minutes at the Pioneers were down 2-1 at the intermission.

Freshman midfielder Ryan McKinney sparked the scoring in the latter stanza when she found the back of the net on a free-position shot to tie things up at two.

Adelphi would regain their ground as they scored the next two goals to build a 4-2 cushion. However, the Pioneers battled back as junior attacker Connor Bird scored an unassisted goal with under four minutes remaining.

In the final moments of the contest, junior attacker Stefani Vagelatos’ last-second effort to tie the game was stalled by Panthers goalkeeper Taylor Hayes as time expired, ending hopes of a comeback.

It was a tightly contested defensive battle, as each team had limited scoring chances. Sophomore goalie Olivia Kirk racked up a game-high seven saves, in addition to picking up two ground balls.

Head Coach Meghan McNamara and the Pioneers return to conference action on Wednesday, April 6, when they prepare to square off against the University of Bridgeport in an East Coast Conference tilt at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, N.Y. Opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m.