Apr 25, 2008

American Advances to PL Finals with 17-15 Comeback Win Over Navy

April 25, 2008

WASHINGTON - American scored seven goals in 9:40 to claim a 17-15 come-from-behind win over Navy in Patriot League women's lacrosse semifinal action on Friday at Jacobs Field. The Eagles will advance to play Colgate on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the right to host the NCAA Play-In Game next weekend.

After trailing 15-10 with just under 10 minutes left in regulation, Lauren Aksionoff tallied her second of three goals in the game to spark the AU comeback. Frankie Solomon made two enormous saves for AU after giving starting keeper Kristine Vida a break for just over six minutes. Jackie and Lauren Lane finished a pair of scores less than a minute apart and the Eagles trailed by two, 15-13 with 5:57 on the clock.

Aksionoff scored her third at 5:25 and after falling a goal short in its first meeting with Navy this season, American would complete the comeback, getting scores from Brittany Finnegan and be the game-winner from Gina Ibello at 4:16. Lauren Lane added insurance at the 2:20 mark and the Eagles would hold the ball to claim the 15-13 win.

Navy jumped out to a 3-0 lead early on, with Meg Decker getting the first two. Katrina Nietsche added the third at 24:23. American got on the board at 24:53 on an unassisted tally from Brittany Finnegan to cut the deficit to 3-1.

American was able to pull within 4-3 in the first half with 19:23 on a Kira Sonberg free position shot, but Navy scored the next four goals to pull away, and the Midshipmen held a 10-6 lead at the half.

"I'm extremely proud with the way our team stayed in the moment and fought back in the game," American head coach Katie Woods said. "Navy is a very good team and it was a battle from the start. Our seniors stepped up big at the end and picked up some huge goals, combined with Frankie's two big saves, and we just kept believing we could come back."

The Eagles got three-goal performances from Finnegan Jackie Lane and Aksionoff. Amanda Makoid had a team-high five points (2g, 3a), while Lauren Lane and Gina Ibello each scored twice. Leslie Fischer (1g), Brit Ferguson (1a), Kira Sonberg (1g, 2a) and Anne Marie Person (1a) each earned points in the AU win.

Vida finished with seven saves and Solomon had two in net for American. Vida and Makoid had a team-high five ground balls. Tahra Johnson had a solid game on defense, winning four draws and causing two turnovers.