Christine Grueniger Scores Three in Women's Lacrosse's 10-8 Defeat Against Delaware

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Newark, Del. – Corinne Drost and Debbie Sloan each had three goals as Delaware held off UAlbany, 10-8, in women’s lacrosse non-league play on Friday, March 13 at Rullo Stadium.

Sophomore Ali Libertini snapped a 3-3 deadlock midway through the first half after Courtney Aburn caused a turnover. Delaware (1-3) ripped off three more goals en route to a 7-3 halftime lead in the first-ever meeting between the programs. Another miscue by the Great Danes led to an Aburn goal with 12:32 left in the period. Drost scored unassisted and Emily Schaknowski, a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association midifielder, converted a free-position opportunity.

The Blue Hens, were coming off last Saturday’s one-goal loss to UMBC, pushed out to a 9-3 advantage in the opening five-plus minutes of the second half on Drost’s back-to-back tallies. UAlbany (1-4) still trailed by five with less than eight minutes remaining, but regrouped with three unanswered. Mel Rorie caused a turnover to set up her second goal of the game. Kayla Best added an unassisted goal following a failed clear and Christine Grueniger found the net with one minute left. Delaware’s Drost picked up the subsequent draw control to stave off the comeback.

Goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny made one of her five saves in the final minutes for the Blue Hens, who kept from becoming the first team in the program’s history to go winless in its opening four games. UAlbany’s Grueniger had a season-high three goals. Best scored twice to extend her goal-scoring streak to 36 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak among active Division I players.

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UAlbany (1-5) 3 5 - 8

Delaware (1-3) 7 3 - 10

UAlbany – Scoring: Christine Grueniger 3-0, Kayla Best 2-0, Mel Rorie 2-0, Julie Bush 1-0; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (60:00, 7 saves, 10 GA).

Delaware – Scoring: Debbie Sloan 3-0, Corinne Drost 3-0, Emily Schaknowski 1-1, Ali Libertini 1-1, Alexis Curcio 1-0, Courtney Aburn 1-0, Morgan Marino 0-1, Amanda Gill 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Jessica Cerveny (60:00, 5 saves, 8 GA).