Cougars Fall Short Against WestConn, 14-13

UNION, N.J. (3/11/10) – The Kean University women's lacrosse team nearly rallied from a six-goal, second-half deficit, however the Cougars fell short to Western Connecticut State University, 14-13, in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon.

Rookie Lyndsey Cannon (Delran, N.J.) scored five goals and added an assist to lead the Cougars (0-3), while senior midfielder Kara Kruczkiewicz (Brookfield, N.J.) was one of eight Colonials to score goals, as she led WestConn (2-0) with three goals and two assists.

WestConn scored the first six goals of the game, as Kruczkiewicz found the net twice.  Cannon (pictured right) got the Cougars on the board nearly midway through the first half and Kean would cut the deficit to 10-6 at the break.

The second half opened with back-to-back goals by WestConn for a 12-6 lead, before the Cougars mounted their rally.  Cannon opened the scoring with two straight goals, followed by free position goals by junior Amanda South (Fairless Hills, Pa.) and senior Chelsea Davis (Livingston, N.J.) to trim the Colonial lead to 12-10 with 14:11 remaining in the game.

After a WestConn goal extended the lead back to three goals, Davis and South would each score again to pull the Cougars to within 13-12 with 8:14 left.  WestConn sophomore Jessica Bouwman (New Milford, N.J.) gave the Colonials a two-goal lead at 14-12, before Kean junior Erica Kelly (West Deptford, N.J.) scored with less than two minutes remaining to again cut the deficit to one goal.  However, that would be the last Cougar shot, as the Colonials won the draw control and were able to control the final minutes of the game.

Davis finished with four goals for the Cougars, while South and Kelly each had two goals and an assist.

Kean goalkeeper Brittany Gibbs (West Deptford, N.J.) and WestConn goalie Meghan Maroney (Granby, Conn.) each made seven saves in the game.

The Cougars face Wells College on Sunday, March 14, at Cornell University.  Game time is set for 2 p.m.