COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's lacrosse team saw its playoff hopes come to an end at the hands of Dickinson on Saturday, as the Red Devils scored early and often on the way to a 21-12 Centennial Conference shootout.
Dickinson (9-7, 6-3) scored on all but two of its 23 shots on goal to spoil Senior Day for the Bears, who would have hosted a first-round rematch in the conference tournament with a win. Sophomores Emily DiGiorgio (four goals) and Franny Liberatosciolo (two goals, three assists) led the way for Ursinus (7-9, 4-5).
After honoring Alyssa Carcia, Lindsey Grabell, Emma Ebert, Amy Kohout, and Lisa Grous in a pregame ceremony, the Bears wasted no time getting out to a lead as Kohout found a cutting Sherry for a 1-0 lead just 39 seconds in. Liberatoscioli's unassisted strike countered two straight goals for the Red Devils to bring about a 2-all tie, but two quick goals by Sam Marmo had Dickinson off and running.
DiGiorgio pulled Ursinus within 4-3 on a free-position conversion before three consecutive goals in less than a minute propelled the Red Devils on a 7-2 run to close the half, after which they led 11-5.
Liberatoscioli facilitated back-to-back goals by DiGiorgio and fellow sophomore Kaci McNeave as the home side cut the margin to 12-7 with 20:37 to go. Dickinson, however, put the game out of reach with a stretch of five straight markers – two by Ashley Conner and two from Eleanor Kaestner – to institute the mercy-rule running clock with 18:24 to go. The margin drifted between eight and ten the rest of the way.
Marmo and Kaestner registered five goals each and were two of six Dickinson players to net at least two. Anne Dunster and Conner collected three apiece, with Sophie Waine (two assists) and Maddie Siebold chipping in two apiece. Siebold piled up 13 draw controls as the Red Devils dominated the circle, 25-10, to win comfortable despite a slim 29-27 edge in shots.
Layne Taber made nine saves for Dickinson, which scored on all five of its eight-meter attempts.
Sherry (three draw controls) finished with a goal and two assists for the Bears, and Kohout matched those numbers in her final game. Kohout added three draws and a caused turnover, and Liberatoscioli posted two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
McNeave had four ground balls and two caused turnovers in addition to a pair of goals, while Grous collected a couple of draws.
Junior defender Amy Lee scored her first career goal on a free-position shot with 2:22 to play.
