Lady Raiders Hold Off Bloomsburg Rally For Second-Straight Win
Apr. 6, 2006
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Senior Kim Hudicka (Media, Pa./Penncrest) matched her career-high with six goals, but the Shippensburg women's lacrosse team had to hold off a late rally from Bloomsburg to pick up a win in its first road game of the season on Thursday, 15-13.
The Lady Raiders (2-3, 2-2 PSAC), who led by as many as six in the second half, won back-to-back games for the first time since April 21, 2004 when the team defeated Howard 16-11 at home to cap a five-game win streak. That team finished 10-5, including 9-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and advanced to the conference semifinals.
Shippensburg led 13-7 at the 44:41 mark after sophomore Brita Paul (Salisbury, Md./James Bennett) scored off an assist from sophomore Kelly Smith (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill).
In the final 15 minutes, Bloomsburg (2-7, 2-2 PSAC) outscored the Lady Raiders 6-2, including three goals in the final four minutes, but could not overcome the six-goal deficit as Shippensburg moved into a three-way tie for third-place in the PSAC standings with the victory.
The Huskies almost doubled the Lady Raiders' total in shots 39-21 which included a commanding 21-10 advantage in the second half. However, Shippensburg senior Michelle Mangle (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert Catholic) was credited with a season-high 15 saves, nine of which came in the first half as her team built a 7-5 halftime lead. Four of the 13 goals she allowed were on free position shots.
After Allison McFatridge gave Bloomsburg an early 1-0 lead, the Lady Raiders scored four unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead before the Huskies cut the lead to 4-3. Shippensburg would again answer with a run, scoring the next three goals to take a 7-3 lead with 5:50 left in the half.
The Lady Raiders maintained at least a four-goal lead for the majority of the second half after Hudicka scored her fourth goal of the game to give Shippensburg a 10-6 lead at the 36:04 mark. The team held a 15-10 lead with 4:45 remaining when Bloomsburg began a rally, getting a goal from Cali Toms and two more from Sam Alexander to cut the lead to 15-13 with one minute left, but the Lady Raiders were able to hold on.
In addition to Hudicka's six goals, junior Kristen Crutchfield (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) and senior Criston Marron (Exton, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) each had three while Paul and senior Lauren Wells (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford) added two and one, respectively.
Alexander and Allison McFatridge each had three goals to lead Bloomsburg. Toms finished the game game with two goals and an assist. In goal for the Huskies, Bridget Maenner and Justine Coleman made three saves each.
Shippensburg will look to extend its winning streak to three on Friday when it faces Millersville at home at 4:00 p.m.
- Lady Raider Lacrosse -
