CHC women tame Tigers for first lax win

Posted 3/28/17

Chestnut Hill College sophomore Julia Reinert (with ball) drives through Holy Family defenders on her way to the goal. (Photo by Tom Utescher) by Tom Utescher Chestnut Hill College senior goalie …

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CHC women tame Tigers for first lax win

Posted

Chestnut Hill College sophomore Julia Reinert (with ball) drives through Holy Family defenders on her way to the goal. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

by Tom Utescher

Chestnut Hill College senior goalie Katie Jo Lang recorded the 500th save of her career, and at the other end of the field the Griffins' offense held up its end as the women's lacrosse team notched its first victory of the season last Monday afternoon. Seniors Jacklyn O'Leary and Lea Sanders rang up five and four goals, respectively, as CHC cruised past Holy Family University, 18-8, raising its record to 1-5 overall and 1-0 within the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

Chestnut Hill had been scheduled to play its CACC opener the previous Saturday, but its home venue, Victory Field, was still wearing a white mantle from the snow that had blanketed the area earlier in the week. That game, against Caldwell (N.J.) College, was postponed.

Tuesday's contest was supposed to take place at Holy Family, but the Tigers' field was still unplayable while the Griffins' turf was now clear. Although the game was staged at Victory Field, Holy Family was officially the home team, and CHC fans had to get used to cheering when a point was added to the visitors' side of the scoreboard.

The Griffins hadn't been overly concerned about their slow start to the season, according to second-year head coach Brianne Timony.

"It was the same as last year, we started out 1-5 and then the girls started playing better together," said the former Griffin ('13), whose 2016 squad won nine straight games after its early struggles.

The problems the team experienced at the outset of the 2017 campaign were correctable.

"I always preach that the little things make the big things happen," Timony related. "Things like cutting down on the drops, passing accurately, and being aware of possession - the other team can't score if we have the ball."

Last Monday Holy Family was first on the scoreboard thanks to sophomore Devon Felix, but five minutes into the action Chestnut Hill had edged ahead, 2-1, on markers by junior Hunter Leckonby and freshman Spencer Fitzgerald. The first two of O'Leary's goals solidified the lead before seven minutes were up, and the Griffins led the rest of the way.

Holy Family's Felix put in a pair in the middle of the period, then the Griffins finished the half with a 3-1 spurt as O'Leary and Leckonby each scored again and junior Erica McLaughlin notched the last goal before the break, pausing the scoreboard at 7-4.

Lang, the Griffins' goalie, had logged her 500th save during the opening period, and in the second half the scoring was initiated by her classmate, Sanders. It was the 91st career goal by Sanders, who scored after Chestnut Hill captured the opening draw and then went down to set up on offense.

Holy Family got that point back to raise the tally to 8-5, but after that only one goal out of the next 11 belonged to the Tigers. This 10-1 rampage occurred as the clock dropped from 25:16 remaining to 7:31 to go, with Sanders scoring three more times and O'Leary recording her fourth marker of the day.

O'Leary would score again later to finish with five goals, one more than Sanders and HFU's Felix. Two goals apiece were supplied by Leckonby, Fitzgerald, junior Julia Galantich and sophomore Julia Reinert, with McLaughlin rounding out the scoring with one marker.

Galantich scooped up a game-high eight ground balls and senior Samantha Herron led the pack in draw controls, with five. Each of these two Griffin veterans earned two assists.

"Sam, Lea, and Jackie are my captains and are good leaders for the team," Timony said. "Julia Galantich has been stepping up for us, and on defense Gillian [Wixted, a junior] is a really big voice who helps organize us back there."

After passing the 500-save milestone, CHC keeper Lang would finish with nine saves on the day.

Timony summed up, "One thing I was happy about is that I was able to play all my players today; our goal was to get enough of a lead so I could do that."

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