The College’s women’s lacrosse team extended their undefeated streak to seven after two physical match-ups with Gettysburg College and Fairleigh Dickinson University-Fordham last week.
The last time the Lions and Gettysburg met, the College was knocked out of the 2009 NCAA tournament. But this time, thanks to the superb play of junior goalie Mary Waller, the Lions were able to edge out the Bullets 13-10.
“We saw (Gettysburg) in the regional championship last year and we lost by one,” head coach Sharon Pfluger said. “I think the girls remembered that and knew we could get more out of ourselves.”
Waller finished the day with a season-high 10 saves, well above her season average of 4.7.
“Mary played great today,” Pfluger said. “She was on her game. They came at her with a variety of shots. She got the high ones, she got the low ones and she was right on the ball when they pressured her out.”
The Lions defense came into the match allowing only 5.6 goals-per-game – second best of all Division III teams – and made sure to continue that strong defensive trend against the No. 6-ranked Bullets.
“Our defense stepped it up today,” Waller said. “When the defense plays well in front of a goalie it definitely makes (my job) a lot easier, so that was key. We were just very in-tune with each other (today) and it helps a lot when you’re on the same page.”
The Lions also received plenty of offense from its powerful offensive attack that came into the match ranked No. 8 in the nation with 17
goals-per-match.
The efforts of senior attacker Lisa Seldeen, junior midfielder Ali Jaeger and sophomore midfielder Kathleen Notos on the attack were essential for the Lions to take an 8-4 lead into halftime.
The Lions trailed 3-4 when Seldeen tied things up with 9:38 left in the first half. The Lions then took the lead when the referees awarded Jaeger a goal after initially calling the shot a miss when it went in and out of the net.
With the Lions leading 5-4, Notos took over as she scored three of her game-high five goals to end the half.
“We had good ball placement,” Pfluger said. “We were really working well together, reading each other, and I thought they fought hard to maintain possession of the ball, to get it back when he lost it, and then to capitalize. It was a really nice run for us.”
The Lions began the week by traveling to FDU-Fordham to collect a 20-10 victory.
“(FDU-Fordham) was a hard fought game all the way through,” Pfluger said. “Our goals were good goals and we kept maintaining control of the game. It was a very physical game, but it was a good game to have prior to Gettysburg.”
Notos led the attack for the Lions with five goals. Jaeger and sophomore attacker Sara Keating each finished with four goals and one assist.
The Lions will look to stay focused and keep their undefeated record alive as they start their play in the New Jersey Athletic Conference against the University of Rutgers-Camden on Apr. 6.
“I feel that we see the best of everybody that we play,” said Pfluger. “So, we have to be prepared for all our games.”
