Record-Breaking Day for University of Albany Women's Lacrosse Keggins in 20-5 Win Over UMBC - UAlbany sports 2015

ALBANY, N.Y. – Officially the top scoring offense in Division I program history, University at Albany women’s lacrosse (13-3, 5-1 AE) dismantled UMBC (8-8, 3-3 AE) 20-5 on Saturday afternoon to earn the No. 2 seed in the upcoming America East Tournament. Senior Maureen Keggins led the Danes with 11 points on six goals and five assists. “I thought it was a great way to honor our seniors, to have our kids play that well,” said head coach John Battaglino. “They finally had a week to prepare for the game, and we were hitting on all cylinders. They were fun to watch today, and it ended our regular season on a high note.” Keggins put the Danes on the board unassisted less than three minutes into the game. Rachel Bowles followed up with a free position conversion shortly after to make it 2-0 UAlbany. UMBC snuck one through, but Bowles kicked off an eight-goal rally. The junior crashed the crease from Keggins man-up after Alie Jimerson forced a turnover on the ride. Jimerson would turn around to score unassisted on a curl from the point for a 4-1 Dane lead mid-way through the first half. Jimerson’s unassisted tally mark the first of seven Purple & Gold goals scored in a span of less than five minutes. The Danes won six consecutive draws to take control of the midfield and the game in the first period. Seven different players contributed off the draw in the early going. In the midst of the seven-goal sprint, Dakotah Savitcheff scored twice from Keggins to become UAbany’s all-time leader in single season goals. She passed Jodi Battaglia, who previously held the top spot with 56 in 2011. Keggins had all five of her assists in the first half, and would find Jimerson as well as Katherine Sweeney before the period expired. With a 13-2 lead at the break, Keggins (3g, 5a), Jimerson (2g, 2a), Bowles (3g) and Savitcheff (3g) had already tallied at least four points apiece. Battaglino’s squad also recorded just two turnovers. Bowles opened the second stanza with an unassisted slice down the middle. Keggins would go on to score three unassisted goals in a row for a 17-2 Dane advantage. The Retrievers won the ensuing draw, but Michelle Primomo caught the UMBC attack on its heels to force the turnover. She would scoop up the ground ball for a good clear. Sarah Martin tallied her lone point of the day on an assist to Jimerson at the 13:07 mark. Bowles and Emma Powlin would wrap up scoring for the Danes with just over five minutes to play. Courtney Henderson took her 13th win between the pipes with seven saves. The Danes also coughed up a season-low six turnovers. John Battaglino & co., have now tallied 369 points in the 2015 season, the most in Division I program history. The Purple & Gold also picked up its ninth win at home for a perfect 9-0 record at John Fallon Field in the regular season for the first time all-time. Along with Savitcheff’s single-season goal mark, Maureen Keggins is now the all-time single-season leader in points with 85 to date. She passed Rachael Burek (2013, 84 points). Keggins also tied Burek for UAlbany’s all-time top single-game points record with 11 (6g, 5a). UAlbany women’s lacrosse continues its 2015 campaign against Vermont in the America East Semifinals at LaValle Stadium on the Stony Brook campus. The Danes and Catamounts are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m., opening draw on Friday, May 1. The winner faces the victor of the Stony Brook vs. UMBC game on Sunday at noon on ESPN3. 2015 AMERICA EAST WOMEN’S LACROSSE TOURNAMENT Friday, May 1: No. 1 Stony Brook vs. No. 4 UMBC – 5:00 p.m. (AE.tv) No. 2 UAlbany vs. No. 3 Vermont – 7:30 p.m. (AE.tv) Sunday, May 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – Noon (ESPN3)