BROCKPORT, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 21 SUNY Brockport women's lacrosse team outscored No. 22 Denison 4-2 in the final 13:07 of the contest to pull away for a 14-12 victory in the season opener for the defending SUNYAC Champions at Bob Boozer Field on Sunday afternoon. Senior
Chloe Kurst netted a career-high five goals, while
Heather Conklin chipped in with two goals and two assists. Conklin now needs just three more points to reach 200 for her career.
Brockport has now won two straight season openers against Denison and the Golden Eagles improved to 1-0 on the year. Denison – which won its season opener at #24 Geneseo (17-10) on Saturday – saw its record move to 1-1 on the year.
Freshman
Natalie Strough added three goals and two assists in her collegiate debut. Sophomore
Allison Jennings added two key goals in the second half and goalie
Morgan Elmer stopped 16 shots in the victory. Conklin and freshman
Courtney Cunningham each added four draw controls for the Golden Eagles. Cunningham also chipped in with a game-high five ground balls.
The first half featured seven ties and seven lead changes as the two teams exchanged blows over the course of the first 30 minutes of action.
Heather Conklin netted a key goal with 1:41 left in the first half to send the contest into the half with the score tied at 7-7.
With the score knotted at 10-10 midway through the second half, the Golden Eagles broke the back and forth battle with two straight goals in a span of 6:55 to take a 12-10 advantage. Denison answered with a goal by Kiely Noonan at 5:18, but the Golden Eagles responded once again with two straight goals from Strough and Cunningham to push its lead to 14-11 with 2:20 left in regulation.
Heather Conklin assisted on Brockport's final two goals of the game.
Denison scored with less than a minute to go – but the comeback bid proved to be too late – as Brockport came away with the thrilling two goal victory.
Noonan finished the day with a team-high five points on three goals and two assists for the Big Red.
Brockport returns to action on Saturday March 7th when the Golden Eagles host No. 19 Ithaca College for an 11 a.m. matchup at Bob Boozer Field.
