Kayla Best Leads UAlbany to 15-6 Win Against Marist in Women's Lacrosse's Home Opener

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Kayla Best had four goals and Jodi Battaglia and Tee Ladouceur scored three times in leading UAlbany to a 15-6 victory over Marist in the Great Danes’ home opener on Saturday, March 1 at John Fallon Field. The non-league game was originally scheduled to be played in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but was moved due to poor field conditions.

Marist (0-1) took a 3-2 lead midway through the first half when Kate Noftsaker found an empty net after UAlbany goalkeeper Katie Neer dropped the ball on a clearing attempt. The Great Danes, who fell to nationally-ranked North Carolina in its 2008 debut one week ago, rattled off five unanswered over the next 10 minutes. Best, a sophomore midfielder, tied the contest on a second-chance opportunity from the right side, before Nikki Branchini found the lower corner 34 seconds later to put her team ahead.

UAlbany (1-1) added three more goals in the run. Ladouceur finished off a pass from behind the cage by Jane Bush. Christine Grueninger tallied the first of her two goals when she split three defenders on a drive. Stacey Brown found the net after cutting to the top of the crease following a restart for a 7-3 advantage.

The Great Danes, who have won six of nine home openers as a Division I program, pulled away by scoring three times in a three-minute span early in the second half. Battaglia, who netted a pair in the final period, placed a shot inside the left post, before Grueniger one-timed Brown’s pass from the left side. Rory Redmond provided her team with a six-goal lead when Battaglia caused a turnover in Marist’s defensive end of the field.

After Marist closed within 10-6 with 15:53 remaining, Battaglia and Ladouceur ended the threat by connecting on back-to-back goals. Battaglia, an All-America selection on the high school level last year, cut to the top of crease to take in Bush’s feed. Ladouceur, a freshman, fired a free-position shot through the goalkeeper’s legs.

“I thought we got off to a slow start,” said Best, who tied a career-high in goals and extended her scoring streak to 15 consecutive games. “We started working together and handled the ball much better. Our quickness and ability to dominate the draw controls have been strengths for us to this point.”

Ali Carnabuci had one goal and one assist for the Red Foxes, who were voted to capture the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in the coaches’ preseason poll after posting a 10-6 record last season. Goalkeeper Liz Burkhard made 13 saves. UAlbany’s Neer turned aside 10 shots.

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UAlbany 15, Marist 6

Marist – Scoring: Ali Carnabuci 1-1, Cristin Begley 1-0, Liz Falco 1-0, Stephanie Garland 1-0, Kate Noftsker 1-0, Megan White 1-0, Carolyn Sumcizk 0-1, Lindsay Diener 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Liz Burkhard (60:00, 13 saves, 15 GA).

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 4-0, Jodi Battaglia 3-1, Tee Ladouceur 3-1, Christine Grueniger 2-0, Rory Redmond 1-1, Stacey Brown 1-1, Nikki Branchini 1-0, Jane Bush 0-2; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (60:00, 10 saves, 6 GA).