University of Connecticut Athletics
No. 15 UConn Beats St. Bonaventure, 11-8
4/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. (April 29, 2005) – Senior Tracy Mullaney had four goals and an assist to become the first Husky to ever eclipse the 200 career point plateau and help the No. 15 University of Connecticut women’s lacrosse team to an 11-8 win over St. Bonaventure on Friday afternoon at Morrone Stadium in Storrs. The Huskies improve to 11-5 with the win, establishing a school record with 11 wins a single season, topping the previous benchmark set by the 10-6 team in 2000. The Bonnies dip to 9-6 with the loss.
UConn enjoyed a huge territorial advantage in the first half and held St. Bonaventure scoreless over the game’s first 23 minutes. Mullaney opened the scoring at 24:10 while Shannon Burke struck for the Huskies at 17:37. Mullaney controlled the ensuing draw and put UConn up 3-0 just 12 seconds later. Mullaney’s third of the half, coming on a free position shot, gave the Huskies a 4-0 edge, but the Bonnies would cut their deficit in half by intermission with goals from Courtney Gibbons and Sarah Dressler. The goal was the first of four in the game for Gibbons.
Gibbons had two of the second half’s first three goals to trim the UConn lead to 5-4. Goals scored 23 seconds apart by Mullaney and Kristen Link gave UConn a 7-4 cushion but the resilient Bonnies kept charging. Two goals by Katie Hurley cut the deficit to 7-6 at 19:57. At that point, senior Jacqui Hamilton took charge in her last regular season home game as a Husky, scoring three of the team’s final four goals. Hamilton’s strike, from fellow senior Dana Stewart, at 19:03 swung the momentum back to the UConn side. After St. Bonaventure's Kelly Chevez and UConn's Kristen Link traded goals, Hamilton’s tally at 6:06 put the Huskies up 10-7 and in clear control. Gibbons found the net on a free position at 5:33, but Hamilton completed her hat trick with 1:30 to play, ensuring the 11-8 final score.
Senior Jennifer Wong made 11 saves in the UConn net to earn her school-record tying 10th win of the season. April Pollock also won 10 games in the Husky cage during the 2000 season.
Mullaney’s game was historic. Already UConn’s career leader in points, she reached the 200 plateau and now boasts 201. Her four goals give her 153 in her career, tying Pam Lowie’s school record set from 1998-2002. She also broke a three-way tie for the school’s single season point record, one she now holds by herself with 59.
UConn has concluded its regular season and will receive word on May 9 if it has qualified for postseason play.
