University of Albany Women's Lacrosse Moves Into Second in America East Standings in 17-11 Win Over Binghamton - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – Kayla Best scored four times and Taylor Frink added three goals and two assists in leading UAlbany to a 17-11 triumph over Binghamton in America East Conference play on Saturday, April 4 at Bearcat Sports Complex. The Great Danes, who have won five of their last six outings, moved into second place in the conference standings.

UAlbany (6-6, AE 3-1) led 13-10 with less than 10 minutes remaining, but then pulled away with four consecutive goals. After the Great Danes successfully cleared the ball from their defensive end, Best found Frink on the right side of the crease. Rory Redmond connected on a drive from the right in a free-position situation. Frink followed 48 seconds later when she moved across the top of the goal from the left after hauling in Julie Bush’s feed. Renee Levitin completed the decisive run when she circled from behind and scored from the left side of the cage.

The Great Danes used a first-half string of four unanswered goals to build a 9-3 lead with 8:43 remaining before the intermission. Olivia Jarem finished off a cut to the top of the crease to begin that outburst. Best, a junior who extended her goal-scoring streak to 42 games in a row, netted back-to-back shots in a one-minute span, including a blast that went inside the left post. Jodi Battaglia, who had two goals and one assist, scored from in front of the crease after gathering in a loose ball.

Binghamton (2-9, AE 0-3) regrouped by scoring three straight times to get back into the fray. Riley Newman and Meg Brown each converted free-position opportunities. Freshman attack Lis Zuern picked her way through a couple of defenders and shot across her body from the right side to close the gap. UAlbany’s Battaglia finished off a crossing pass from the left side of the crease to give her team a 10-6 halftime margin.

In the second half, UAlbany pushed out to a five-goal cushion twice, including 12-7 when Redmond hit the net from right of the crease. But the Bearcats rallied with three of the game’s next four goals. Ali Castiglie and Lisa Illig scored 49 seconds apart, as each player rolled inside a defender from the left side. Castiglie, a sophomore attack who did all of her scoring in the final half with three goals, cut the deficit to 13-10 as she dodged from left of the crease with 10:13 to play.

“We were a little inconsistent, but we did a good job of controlling the draw and clearing the ball at critical times,” said UAlbany coach Lindsay Hart, whose team won 20 of 30 draw controls. “The America East is wide open this year and we have put ourselves in a position to get into the tournament and anything can happen from there.”

Frink, a sophomore midfielder, established a career-high scoring total for the second straight game with five points. Mel Rorie added three goals and one assist, as the Great Danes have won three of their opening four conference games for just the second time since becoming a league member. Kate Tesi and Illig each had two goals for the Bearcats, who suffered their seventh straight setback.

UAlbany (6-6, AE 3-1) 10 7 - 17

Binghamton (2-9, AE 0-3) 6 5 - 11

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 4-1, Taylor Frink 3-2, Mel Rorie 3-1, Jodi Battaglia 2-1, Rory Redmond 2-0, Olivia Jarem 1-1, Julie Bush 1-1, Renee Levitin 1-0, Katie Neer 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (56:17, 7 saves, 10 GA), Ashley Ross (3:43, 1 saves, 1 GA).

Binghamton – Scoring: Ali Castiglie 3-0, Kate Tesi 2-0, Lisa Illig 2-0, Emily Thon 1-0, Meg Brown 1-0, Lis Zuern 1-0, Riley Newman 1-0, Lizzie Wright 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Emily Miller (60:00, 8 saves, 17 GA).