CLINTON, S.C. ? The Presbyterian College women's lacrosse team earned its first win over a Division I opponent in less than ideal conditions on Friday afternoon with a 17-16 victory over Central Connecticut State University.
Junior midfielder Jenna Handshoe (Greenville, S.C./J.L. Mann H.S.) scored the game-winner for the Blue Hose off a free position shot with 1:50 remaining on the clock. She finished the afternoon with a pair of goals and an assist.
PC (1-2) pelted CCSU with 41 shots over the course of 60 minutes, scoring three times on free position attempts. Junior midfielder Brittni Dulaney (Rome, Ga./Darlington School) netted a team-high five goals and added two points for a game-high seven points.
Junior midfielder Jordan Newberry (Atlanta, Ga./North Springs H.S.) struck first for the Blue Hose, scoring two minutes into the contest to put PC on the board. Dulaney followed up Newberry's performance by reeling off three straight goals over the course of four minutes to put PC up 4-0 with 22:28 still to play in the first half.
Stephanie John halted PC's scoring run with a score for the Blue Devils at 18:14. Newberry added her second score of the afternoon and freshman Kirstin Stenoien (Houston, Texas, Lutheran H.S.) found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal off a dish by Dulaney.
The Blue Devils (0-2) and the Blue Hose traded goals back and forth for five minutes before CCSU went on a five-goal run towards the end of the half, tying the game at nine with just over a minute to play.
Dulaney had the final word of the half when she tore down the field and fired from five meters out to end the period with PC up 10-9.
The Blue Hose started the second half in similar fashion to the first, outscoring the Blue Devils 4-1 over the first 10 minutes. Dulaney's fifth goal of the game established a 14-10 lead for PC with 20 minutes left to play. As fouls mounted on both sides due to the bad weather and slippery conditions, CCSU amped up its offense scoring three times in two minutes to bring the Blue Devils within one.
Newberry slipped one past CCSU's Alice Lee in goal off a pass by Handshoe to boost PC's lead to two, 15-13 with 15:43 left on the clock. The Blue Devils continued their offensive momentum as they scored twice, with John's sixth goal of the game tying the score for the second time, 15-15.
The score remained tied for almost six minutes as the teams traded shots. CCSU's Cara Momnie found the back of the net with 5:35 remaining to give the Blue Devils their first lead of the game. CCSU held its lead for two minutes before freshman Marie-Lisette Dimitrew (Greenville, S.C./Eastside H.S.) scored on a free position attempt to tie the game at 16 all with 3:36 to go. As it looked like the game might be headed into overtime, Handshoe's goal gave PC a one-point lead and the victory.
Freshman Susan England (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman H.S.) made 14 saves in goal while her counterpart made 19 stops.
PC returns to Old Bailey Stadium on Sunday for a 1 p.m. matchup with St. Mary's (Calif.)
