March 23, 2009
Box Score
NEWARK, Del. - The 20th-ranked Loyola women's lacrosse team won its sixth game in a row, defeating host Delaware, 11-5, Monday afternoon with a strong defensive effort at Rullo Stadium.
The Greyhounds improved to 7-1 overall this season, eclipsing the team's win total from a year ago when it finished with six.
Loyola held the Blue Hens (3-4) scoreless for the first half and did not allow a goal until 19:05 remained in the game and the Greyhounds had built an 8-0 lead.
"In the first half, our ability to cause turnovers and our discipline defensively was impressive," Head Coach Jen Adams said. "We did the crucial things today, winning the draw controls and 50-50 ground balls."
Grace Gavin scored four goals and assisted on another, while Colleen O'Keefe added two goals and two assists. Abby Rehfuss scored twice, as well, and Emily Gibson tacked on a goal and two assists.
The Greyhounds held Delaware to just 12 shots on goal and only two before the half. No Blue Hens player scored more than one goal in the game.
Loyola also controlled possession for much of the game, winning 13 of 17 draw controls. Rehfuss led the way with four, and Ashley Cudmore controlled two.
Meg Taylor put the Greyhounds on the board almost five minutes into the contest off a Gibson assist. The Blue Hens held Loyola scoreless for the next six minutes, but Gavin broke through, taking a feed from Mary Heneberry to put the Greyhounds up, 2-0, with 19:21 to go before the break.
O'Keefe used a Gibson assist to score again less than three minutes later, and Rehfuss scored the first of her two back-to-back goals with 3:08 remaining.
She tallied another goal 24 ticks into the second frame, and Gavin notched her second goal 4:10 later. Loyola's first five goals of the game were scored off assists, and all but two - one being on a free-position shot - were assisted.
Loyola opens BIG EAST Conference play on Friday, March 27, when it travels to New Brunswick, N.J., to face Rutgers at 7 p.m. The Greyhounds then travel to South Bend, Ind., for a game on Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m. against Notre Dame.
