Bentley Holds off Molloy for 16-14 Non-Conference Win
WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University withstood a second-half rally from Molloy to post a 16-14 victory over the Lions on Friday night in non-conference women's lacrosse play.
In a game that was a tale of two halves, Bentley outscored the visitors 12-6 in the first half, but Molloy outscored them 8-4 in the second.
Bentley led by as much as 14-7 with 20:52 remaining in the contest after a Torre Taylor (Locust Valley, N.Y./Friends Academy) goal. But Molloy went on a 7-2 run to close to within 16-14 with 1:03 to play after sophomore Alexa Toscano scored her third goal of the game.
Molloy won the ensuing draw control to gain possession, but junior Maureen Fields (Pittsfield, Mass./Pittsfield) caused a turnover and came up with the ground ball with 23 seconds left, and Bentley ran out the clock to grab the victory.
Bentley had a big first half behind three goals from sophomore Cori Geiger (Agawam, Mass./Agawam) and two each from junior Megan Wiggins (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) and freshman Chelsea Larivee (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan). The big run of the half was a 6-1 spurt over the final 14 minutes that turned a 6-5 Bentley lead into a 12-6 advantage at halftime. All six goals were scored by different players during the run.
Geiger finished as the game's high-scorer with six points on three goals and three assists. Molloy's Maria Varricchio and Melanie Sosnowski each had a game-high four goals.
The win levels Bentley's record to 5-5 overall, while Molloy drops to .500 at 4-4.
The Falcons return to Northeast-10 play on Sunday when they visit New Haven for a 1:00 p.m. encounter.
Box Score
At Waltham, Mass.
Molloy (4-4) 6 8 -- 14
Bentley (5-5) 12 4 -- 16
Goals: B, Cori Geiger 3, Megan Wiggins 2, Dovlyn Curtis 2, Lauren Canepa 2, Carolyn Kynoch 2, Chelsea Larivee 1, Alex Carney 1, Torre Taylor 1, Gillian Paradis 1, Margeaux Guercia 1; M, Maria Varricchio 4, Melanie Sosnowski 4, Alexa Toscano, Hayley Lacey 1, Emily Antonette 1, Kaitlynn Kelly 1
Assists: B, Geiger 3, Wiggins 2, Larivee 1; M, Lacey 2, Nicolle DeAngelis 1, Alison Saclice 1, Sosnowski 1, Toscano 1, Varricchio 1
Shots: B, 29; M, 28
Saves: B, Kate Poznick 4, Ally Dorman 4; M, Jackie Bove 11
Ground Balls: B, 25; M, 23
Draw Controls: B, 18; M, 13