University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Drops Heartbreaker to No. 11 Notre Dame
4/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, CT (April 6) – The University of Connecticut women’s lacrosse team lost a heartbreaker behind the play of freshman Tracy Mullaney (Cockeysville, MD) to No. 11 Notre Dame in a BIG EAST match-up on Saturday afternoon at Morrone Stadium in Storrs. UConn dropped its record to 3-5 overall, 0-2 in the BIG EAST, while Notre Dame improved to 8-1 overall, 4-0 in conference play.
UConn struck first just under the eight-minute mark on an unassisted shot from Mullaney. Notre Dame then went on to score the next four goals taking the 4-1 lead, including two from ND’s leading scorer Danielle Schearer. Connecticut brought the score within one in the later part of the half. Mullaney notched her second goal at the 14:42 mark, and Abbey VanDeusen (Fayetteville, NY) capped the scoring off with six-minutes remaining on an assist from Bonnie Wehinger (North Syracuse, NY).
Connecticut came out strong from the start of the second half scoring three goals in a three-minute time span. Kariane Lauri (Memphis, NY) opened the half’s scoring at the 2:24 mark on an assist from Mullaney. Thirty-seconds later, Mullaney notched her third goal of the game giving the Huskies the 5-4 lead. At the 24:37 mark, Pam Lowie (Cortland, NY) pushed UConn ahead with the two-goal advantage on an assist from Wehinger. The Irish scored the next two goals to tie the score just before the midpoint of the half on two tallies from Natalie Loftus. The Huskies again took the two-goal lead on Mullaney’s fourth of the day and on a score from Kelly Feeley (Collingswood, NJ) minutes later. Notre Dame scored two goals to tie the gamee for the second time this half. Danielle Schearer notched a hat trick and Kate Marotta scored the game-tying nod. Marotta’s goal started the Irish on a six-goal scoring spree. The Irish took their first lead of the half and for the remainder of the game with just under 10-minutes left in regulation. Meredith Simon pushed Notre Dame ahead, followed by scores from Alissa Moser, Marotta and another from Simon. UConn’s last goal came on a free position shot from Feeley with three-minutes left to play.
Both teams were backed by excellent goaltending. UConn’s April Pollock (North Syracuse, NY) stopped 17 shots, allowing 12 goals, while ND’s Jen Higgins made 18 saves on nine goals.
On the day, Connecticut’s Mullaney scored four goals plus added an assist while, Feeley notched two goals and Lowie scored a goal and an assist. Notre Dame’s Danielle Schearer and Meredith Simon each had a hat trick and Natalie Loftus and Kate Marotta each netted two goals.
Connecticut will travel to Boston College on Wednesday, April 10 for a night game to begin at 7:30 pm.
