Harvard Comes From Behind to Defeat UAlbany, 16-10, in Women's Lacrosse Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. -- Natalie Curtis had three of her four goals in the second half as unbeaten Harvard rallied for a 16-10 victory over UAlbany in a non-league women’s lacrosse matchup on Wednesday, March 5 at Jordan Field.

UAlbany (2-2) broke a 4-4 tie over the final five minutes of the opening period with a pair of goals to take a halftime lead. Brittany Scott, a senior midfielder, recorded an unassisted tally before Christine Grueniger, who scored three times, converted a free-position opportunity with 35 seconds remaining.

Harvard (3-0) reversed that deficit at the intermission with six unanswered. Kaitlin Martin, a second-team All-Ivy League attacker, put her team ahead, 7-6, with a free-position shot, before Sarah Bancroft found the net eight seconds later. Martin, who had three goals, and Caroline Simmons, who scored twice and assisted on another, finished off that decisive run.

The Crimson, who have won their opening three games for the first time since 2000 and are receiving votes for the Nike/Inside Lacrosse national top-20 poll, still led 10-7 midway through the period. But Curtis, a senior midfielder, found the net three times in a six-plus minute span to help her team pull away. Her final two goals came 45 seconds apart.

Freshman Tee Ladouceur had a career-high four goals for the Great Danes, who were coming off a pair of wins over Marist and Siena. Goalkeeper Katie Neer had nine saves, one off her career-best. Harvard’s Sara Flood led all scorers with two goals and three assists, while Bancroft added three goals.


Harvard 16, UAlbany 10

UAlbany – Scoring: Tee Ladouceur 4-0, Christine Grueniger 3-0, Brittany Scott 1-0, Kayla Best 1-0, Jodi Battaglia 1-0, Jane Bush 0-1, Nikki Branchini 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (60:00, 9 saves, 16 GA).

Harvard – Scoring: Natalie Curtis 4-0, Kaitlin Martin 3-0, Sarah Bancroft 3-0, Sara Flood 2-3, Caroline Simmons 2-1, Jess Halpern 1-2, Lauren Bobzin 1-0; Goalkeeper(s): Kathryn Tylander (30:00, 4 saves, 6 GA), Katherine Martino (30:00, 7 saves, 4 GA).