April 22, 2008

Final Stats

Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College women's lacrosse team received five goals from junior midfielder Kelly Blundin (Plymouth Meeting, PA/ Plymouth Whitemarsh) but the Seahawks could not overcome the nine points recorded by Leanne Musso and wound up on the short end of a 20-12 decision in the 2008 season finale.

Jessica Bajkowski

It was Senior Day on Grymes Hill as the program honored its two seniors, defender Jessica Bajkowski (Fairfax, VA/ Robinson) and midfielder Brianne Fitzgerald (Ridge, NY/ Longwood), for their four years of hard work and dedication, in a pre-game ceremony. The game took on a somber note, however, during the first half when Bajkowski, who had recently returned to the lineup after missing five games with a wrist injury, went down with an injured right knee. She did not return to the game.

Brianne Fitzgerald

Musso, a senior midfielder, was seemingly everywhere for the Bearcats, as she scored five goals, dished out four assists, won two draw controls and caused two turnovers. Blundin opened the game's scoring with a goal just 33 seconds into the contest off an assist by sophomore midfielder Teri Noll (Jordan, NY/ Jordan-Elbridge Central). Binghamton answered with three consecutive goals to take a 3-1 lead.

With the Bearcats leading 6-3, Wagner then put together its best stretch of the game, scoring three consecutive goals in a span of 3:48 to tie the game at 3-3. Junior midfielder Lindsay Hashmall (Wantagh, NY/ Wantagh) slammed home a rocket of a shot from point blank range, a goal that was sandwiched around a pair of Blundin tallies. Binghamton countered with a 4-0 run over the final 6:05 of the first half to take a 10-6 lead into intermission.

A pair of Blundin goals on free position shots drew the Seahawks to within 13-10 at the 11:50 mark, but Binghamton out-scored Wagner 8-2 the rest of the way in pulling away for the victory. Sophomore midfielder Krista Malayter (Cheshire, CT/ Cheshire) and freshman attack Karen Vitkus (Skaneateles, NY/ Skaneateles) tallied two goals apiece while junior midfielder Cara Gonzalez (Syracuse, NY/ Westhill) added a goal and a game-high nine draw controls

Wagner out-shot the Bearcats 45-36, won 16-of-18 draw controls and the teams were even in ground balls at 17-17. But Binghamton goalie Sandra Alvarez outstanding throughout, continually thwarting Wagner scoring opportunities en route to a 19-save performance. Seahawk junior goalie Alex Johnston (Manlius, NY/ Fayetteville-Manlius) had nine saves.

With the loss, the Seahawks, under the direction of first-year head coach Karen Rife, end the 2008 campaign with an overall record of 3-12, 3-5 in the Northeast Conference. Binghamton, which is a member of the America East Conference, meanwhile, ended its season with a record of 5-11.