University of Albany 's Kayla Best Scores Her Season-Best Four Goals Helps Lacrosse in 15-8 Win Against Temple - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – Kayla Best equaled a season-high with four goals and Mel Rorie scored three times, all in the first half, in leading UAlbany to a 15-8 victory over Temple on Sunday, March 15. The Great Danes ended a five-game skid since winning their season opener.

UAlbany (2-5) ripped off eight unanswered in the opening 17 minutes. Rorie, a sophomore midfielder, scored twice on plays that started with Temple turnovers for a 3-0 lead. The Great Danes then netted goals 44 seconds apart. Freshman Melanie Sosnowski set up Taylor Frink, before Nikki Branchini won the following draw leading to Best’s unassisted goal.

The Great Danes ended that first-half run by scoring twice in a 55-second span. Frink tallied her second goal of the game on an unassisted shot with 13:55 left in the period. After Christine Grueniger gathered in the subsequent draw, Jodi Battaglia converted a free-position opportunity.

Temple (0-5) closed within 10-5 in the second half when Lauren Fisher scored her second goal on an unassisted play. The Great Danes, who were meeting the defending Atlantic 10 Conference champion for the first time in the program’s history, answered with a pair of goals over the next three minutes. Best, who extended her goal-scoring streak to 37 consecutive games, won the following draw control and drove all the way to the cage for her 20th goal of the season. Defender Tricia Primomo’s ground ball led to a scoring sequence where Frink found Battaglia for a 12-5 advantage with 12:54 remaining.

“We came to the game with a lot of energy and were excited to play today,” said UAlbany coach Lindsey Hart, whose team had lost its previous three games by a combined four goals. “We moved the ball well and communicated. We had off-the-ball movement that created options and we were able to hit connecting passes.”
UC Davis transfer Olivia Jarem made her first appearance after being sidelined with an injury since Feb. 18. Jarem, a junior midfielder, scored her first points as a Great Dane with three goals, including two in the final half. Frink added two goals and one assist. Melissa Schweitzer and Keelin Hood each scored a pair for the Owls, who were picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.

-agate-

UAlbany (2-5) 9 6 - 15

Temple (0-5) 3 5 - 8

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 4-0, Mel Rorie 3-0, Olivia Jarem 3-0, Taylor Frink 2-1, Jodi Battaglia 2-0, Nikki Branchini 1-0, Julie Bush 0-1, Melanie Sosnowski 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (57:50, 5 saves, 8 GA), Ashley Ross (2:10, 0 saves, 0 GA).

Temple – Scoring: Lauren Fisher 2-0, Melissa Schweitzer 2-0, Keelin Hood 2-0, Kelsey Zenuk 1-0, Allison McWilliams 1-0; Goalkeeper(s): Jessica Colucci (25:43, 3 saves, 9 GA), Tess Bishop (34:17, 3 saves, 6 GA).