Women's lacrosse holds on against GW for first A-10 win :: Bonnies snap six-game losing streak

April 6, 2008

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The St. Bonaventure women's lacrosse team took a two-goal lead into the half and that proved to be the difference as it held on for its first Atlantic 10 win of the season, a 11-9 decision over George Washington Sunday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field.

The win gives the Bonnies a bit of revenge after being knocked out of the A-10 Tournament last season by the Colonials (3-9, 1-3). The win also snaps the Brown and White's six-game losing streak and improves them to 2-8 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

Senior Brenna Houghton became just the third active player in the nation with 100 career assists as she dished out three on the day to go along with her two scores. Houghton now has an even 100 for her career - second best in the Bona record books.

Fellow senior Stephanie Jordan collected her second hat trick of the season and third of her career, including the eventual game-winning goal with 11:13 to play. Sophomore Patty Nessle continues to post big offensive numbers with four points on three goals and an assist. Nessle now has three hat tricks on the year and has at least two points in 11 consecutive games, dating back to last season. Senior Kimberly Ross continued to play unselfishly with two more assists and one goal.

A large reason for St. Bonaventure's two-goal, 7-5, halftime lead was the play of senior goalie Eboni Preston. The Windsor, Md. product stopped nine shots in the opening 30 minutes and 12 for the game. Preston has now saved at least 10 shots in 9 of 10 games and is five saves shy of 500 for her career. A wild opening 11 featured a combined seven goals from the two teams as the Bonnies held a slight 4-3 advantage. Houghton's first of two during the beginning of the game came just 30 seconds in. Houghton then tied the score at 2-2, followed by Nessle's first from Ross and freshman Christine Hanley from sophomore Molly Hastrich.

St. Bonaventure doubled up GW, 6-3, at the 8:20 mark with its second consecutive goal as Jordan tallied her first of the game off a pass from Houghton. Nessle and Ross hooked up, again, for the first score.

The two teams traded goals over the last eight minutes with the Colonials getting the last laugh to make it 7-5 at the half.

George Washington cut the deficit to one goal on a pair of occasions in the opening 12 minutes of the second half, with the last coming at the 18:31 mark to make it 8-7. The two GW goals were wrapped around Nessle's third goal of the game off a pass from Houghton.

The Brown and White fought back with a 3-0 run over the next nine minutes to create some separation from the Colonials, 11-7, with 9:12 left in regulation. Ross was the beneficiary on Houghton's 100th career assists, while Jordan completed her hat trick off a feed from Nessle and junior Keri Vito completed a well-executed pass from Hanley for the final tally.

The Colonials scored the game's next two goals to bring it to 11-9, but the Bonnies successfully ran out the clock.

For the game, each team finished with 22 shots. The Bonnies held a slight 13-9 edge in draw controls, while GW owned a 19-12 margin in ground balls.

The nine goals allowed by the Brown and White marked a season-low. The Bona defense was led by senior Meghan DePaul who caused two turnovers and tied a career-high with four ground balls.

St. Bonaventure will be back in action on Wednesday, April 9 when it travels to Niagara for a non-conference clash. Draw time is scheduled for 4 p.m.