BROOKLYN, N.Y.- Monmouth University's women's lacrosse team locked up the second seed in the Northeast Conference Tournament with a 16-9 win over Long Island University on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn.
The Hawks and Blackbirds were tied at 7-7 going into the second half before LIU's Amy Rizzo scored 38 seconds into the frame to give LIU a one-goal lead. Monmouth then launched a seven goal unanswered attack, led by juniors Megan Nutter (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) and Ashley Waldman (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional). Senior Carolyn Raveia (Woodbridge, Va./W.T. Woodson) tied the game at the 27:42 mark before Nutter and Waldman went back and forth scoring two goals apiece which was capped off by a Katie Degen score. After freshman Ali Pollock's (Watervliet, N.Y./Shaker) goal with 11:30 left in the game, the Hawks had a 14-8 lead, and were on their way to their seventh conference win of the season. Rizzo broke the seven-goal unanswered streak and Raveia and Nutter scored one more each, as MU tallied the 16-9 win.
MU scored the first three goals of the game, with goals from Colleen Burg (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), Waldman and freshman Brittney McLaughlin (Coram, N.Y./Longwood). The Blackbirds answered with four goals of their own, including two from Rizzo. Freshman Megan Brennan (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), Raveia and Waldman scored three straight goals for the Hawks, but LIU rallied to outscore MU 4-1 in the final five minutes of the first half.
Sophomore Monica Johnson (Radnor, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) had a season-high 18 saves in the game, while LIU netminder Kim Cambell had 11. Monmouth held a 40-36 advantage in shots.
Raveia's four goals and two assists led all players with six points. Waldman finished with four goals and a helper, while Degen scored once but had five caused turnovers and six ground balls in the game. Nutter finished with a trio of goals and two assists and had three draw controls.
Monmouth will play Sacred Heart on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the semifinals of the 2007 Northeast Conference Tournament, hosted on the campus of Mount St. Mary's.
