COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Ursinus College women's lacrosse team got back to its winning ways on the final day of its spring break trip to Colorado, embarking on a four-goal run starting at the midway point of the second half to distance itself from Emerson en route to a 12-9 victory at Colorado College.
Three days after a chilly, windy outing against the host Tigers, the sun returned and the skies opened up for Thursday's clash. The Bears (3-2) shined behind a balanced offense that featured three goals from sophomore Emily DiGiorgio – all on free-position shots – and two apiece by classmates Franny Liberatoscioli, Bridget Sherry, and Abby Goldstein as well as senior Amy Kohout. Senior Lindsey Grabell nabbed her first goal of the season and dished out two assists to help Ursinus put the brakes on a two-game skid.
After Emerson (0-3) struck first on a free-position shot, Goldstein evened the score at the 24:58 mark with an impressive individual effort, using a spin move to free herself for a shot in close that found the lower left corner of the net. Sherry gave the Bears their first lead on a bouncing free-position shot two minutes later.
The Lions roared back with two quick markers, but Ursinus equalized when Grabell picked out Liberatoscioli all alone in front of the cage, and the sophomore made no mistake with a one-touch rip.
DiGiorgio handed the Bears the lead back at the 11:28 mark, swooping across the face of the cage on a free-position attempt and blasting a shot top shelf to make it 4-3. Emerson knotted the contest on a free-position goal with 4:46 remaining, but freshman Haley O'Malley answered with one of her own just 14 seconds later to reclaim the upper hand.
The Bears maintained that advantage heading into halftime, and the teams traded goals within the first five minutes of the second stanza to continue the one-goal margin. Ursinus finally achieved some separation with back-to-back markers, the first on a free-position stroke by DiGiorgio and the next on a strike by Kohout that made it 8-5 with 20:46 to play.
The Lions scored the next two to get back within one at 8-7, but Ursinus took command with four consecutive tallies. DiGiorgio completed her fourth hat trick of the season before Grabell's first goal of the season, a free-position conversion, gave Ursinus another three-goal spread with 9:25 remaining.
Just inside the 7-minute mark, Kohout threaded a perfect pass through two defenders to a cutting Sherry, who secured the slick feed and rapidly fired into the back of the net for an 11-7 bulge with 6:56 to go. Goldstein netted her second of the day after a re-start, taking a pass from Sherry at the right post and beating the Emerson goalkeeper high and to the top left corner of the net from a difficult angle.
Emerson got one back with 1:20 to play and another with 40 seconds left, but it was too little and too late. Kohout tacked on her second of the day on a fast break six seconds before the final horn. Junior Alycia Hildebrand was credited with an assist on the play, her first career point.
Three different players scored two goals for the Lions, and Kristina Modica made ten saves.
Sophomore Kaitlyn France came on for the second half and finished with three saves for Ursinus. Senior Lisa Grous racked up five draw controls and Liberatoscioli added three for the Bears, who held a 13-11 advantage in that category and a 25-20 edge in shots. Sophomores Kaci McNeave and Emily Blaszkow posted two caused turnovers apiece.
The Bears head back home to face Babson on Saturday, March 18.