BOXSCORE

The College at Brockport's women's lacrosse team hit the road on Tuesday hoping to make a statement during its State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) game against nationally-ranked Geneseo.

Consider that statement made.

 

The Golden Eagles (5-3 overall, 3-1 SUNYAC) handed fierce conference rival Geneseo its first loss of the season, rallying for a 12-9 win at Saratoga Field in Geneseo.

 

Brockport trailed 8-4 with 22:56 remaining in the second half, but thanks to a persistent attack and a relentless defensive effort, the Golden Eagles knocked off the Blue Knights.

 

Sophomore Sarah Brown (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) scored three goals and collected an assist in while junior Carly Motondo (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) also scored three goals for the Golden Eagles, who outscored Geneseo 8-1 over the final 19 minutes.

 

Junior Karen Bianchi (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) notched the eventual winning goal with 9:41 to play, and she also matched a career-high with six ground balls.

 

“They've been focused all along, they found a way to fight back, kept chipping away and found the net when they needed to,” said Linda Michele, Brockport's second-year coach.

 

“They don't quit, they never quit no matter what the score is, and they kept battling back. … I put (Karen) Bianchi on the draw, and once I switched her on the draw she won the next two, which gave us possession, and then she had the goal that broke the tie.”

 

Geneseo (7-1, 2-1) was ranked No. 20 in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll and had averaged more than 18 goals a game in winning its first seven contests.

 

A stifling Brockport defense held the Blue Knights to their lowest goal output of the year.

 

Brockport's defense caused 21 turnovers, including 14 in the first half, as the Golden Eagles picked up their fourth win in their last five contests.

 

Trailing 8-4, Brockport scored three consecutive free-position shot goals, with Brown, freshman Alyssa Scordo (Watertown, NY/South Jefferson) and Motondo scoring during the spurt.

 

Sophomore Stephanie Toomey (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) tied the game on her 13th goal of the season with 11:22 remaining, with an assist to junior Dayna Piraino (Syracuse, NY/Henninger). The lead increased to 10-8 on Brown's unassisted goal with 8:22 left to play.

 

After Geneseo pulled within one, Piraino and Brown each scored to seal the win for Brockport. Senior Jamie Kaminsky (Oakdale, NY/Sayville) finished with five saves to earn the win.

 

Brown leads Brockport in goals (21), assists (12) and points (33). Motondo scored Brockport's first two goals as the Golden Eagles led 2-0 after the first 9:39. Sophomore Kaila Maguire's (Potsdam, NY/Potsdam) goal tied it at 3-all before Geneseo scored late in the half to take a 4-3 halftime lead.

 

Brockport went 5-for-10 on the free-position, including scoring on 4 of 6 opportunities in the second half.

 

“They've been working so hard, and when you can give them a win like this, it keeps them convinced to stay the course, that they are being rewarded for hard work,” Michele said. “If they keep this up, they will go and surprise teams, they are really starting to come together.”

 

The Golden Eagles return home Friday for a 4 p.m. non-conference game against RIT.