University of Albany Women's Lacrosse Rallies Past New Hampshire to Stay Tied for First in America East Standings, Improving To 12-2

Durham, N.H. - Kayla Best scored the game-winning goal with 40 seconds remaining and Mel Rorie had three of her four goals in the second half, as UAlbany rallied for a 13-12 victory over New Hampshire on Saturday, April 24 at Memorial Field. The Great Danes remained in a tie for first place in the conference standings with Boston University.

The Great Danes, who won for the first time in six trips to New Hampshire, reversed an 8-5 deficit with five unanswered. Mel Sosnowski's free-position chance tied the contest at eight apiece, before Rorie put her team ahead. Christine Grueniger converted Jodi Battaglia's feed for a 10-8 advantage.

UNH's Amber Casiano, who had three goals and one assist, drew her team even at 10-all, before the Great Danes scored twice in a 48-second stretch. Grueniger, who scored three times and handed out an assist, gave her team the lead and Rorie's free-position goal followed.

The Wildcats, who had won five of their previous six outings, came back again when Hayley Rausch and Casiano each scored. Casino, a freshman midfielder, found the net with 1:56 to play. All of which set up the game-winner when Best connected off a pass from Battaglia.

New Hampshire (9-5, AE 3-2) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the opening six-plus minutes of play. Casiano scored with 19 seconds elapsed, before JoJo Curro tallied her 23rd of the season. Allie Bratton, a junior attack, netted a pair of goals of one minute and six seconds apart to end that outburst.

UAlbany (12-2, AE 5-0) battled back with four of the game's next five goals. Taylor Frink and Rorie ignited that stretch by scoring twice in a 24-second span. Olivia Jarem closed the gap to 6-4 with 11:26 left in the period with a free-position shot. The Wildcats kept that two-goal margin by taking a 7-5 lead to the intermission.

Paw Prints: UAlbany will meet Boston University for the America East Conference regular-season title and the right to host the conference postseason tournament on Saturday, May 1 at John Fallon Field (4:00 p.m.) ... the Great Danes established the program's single-season record with their 12th win, breaking a mark that was established in 1998 ... UAlbany has won five league games for the first time since joining America East in 2002 ... the Great Danes have won three one-goal decisions this season, including two straight in come-from-behind fashion ... Mel Rorie has scored four goals in a game five times, including twice against New Hampshire ... Olivia Jarem has 23 points (19 goals, 4 assists) over her last seven games ... Christine Grueniger moved to ninth in career scoring with 121 points and is tied for seventh in goals (97).


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information