Box Score
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Contributions from eight different players help lead the LIU Brooklyn women's lacrosse to a decisive 20-9 victory over Howard on Friday evening at LIU Field.
A six-goal effort from freshman Mary McQueen aided the Blackbirds to their first win of the season. Fellow freshmen Jenn Peters and Danita Stroup each tallied a hat trick, with both also adding four assists. LIU also saw multiple goal efforts from seniors Shakoya Smith, Jesenia Cantres and Kimberly Kovar.
McQueen started the scoring early for the Blackbirds, just a minute and a half into the game after a sucessful clear attempt. LIU quickly regained posession on the draw control, leading to a shot from junior Brittany Rader. Despite a save by Bison goalkeeper Jasmine Wilson, the ball remained near their net, and Shakoya Smith got the sucessful shot off to lengthen the lead to 2-0.
Several turnovers in the next two minutes traded the ball back and forth, but a ground ball pickup from freshman Jenna Lasaponara gave LIU the ball, which eventually found its way into the stick of Peters, who scored the third goal of the game. Two minutes later, Peters and junior Colleen Holmes scored two quick goals to give LIU a 5-0 lead.
Stroup scored again for LIU with 21:49, but a draw control and subsequent goal from Howard put the Bison on the board. The Blackbirds struck back soon after, however, after Stroup won the draw control and fed the ball to McQueen.
The score remained 7-1 for about the next five minutes, before the Bison scored again. The Blackbirds answered with four straight goals, giving them the 10-2 advantage with 14:24 in the first. The Bison were able to get one past goalkeeper Alexis Maldonado, before another 3-0 LIU run to end the first half at 13-3.
Coming out of the break, the Bison attempted to cut into the Blackbirds lead, scoring two straight. But Peters stopped their run, scoring one goal of her own before assisting McQueen minutes later.
Howard continued to fight, scoring two more. LIU continued their own fight, with another three goals from Smith, McQueen and Stroup for an 11-goal lead at 18-7. The Bison got two more in, but were handed a number of fouls in eight-meter with less than two minutes to go, allowing for free position goals from Kovar and Rader, who helped cap off the game at 20-9.
The Blackbirds dominated the shots, 41-24, along with ground balls, 16-8. Maldonado made nine saves, including six in the second half.
Up next, LIU Brooklyn continues its two-game homestand on Tuesday, facing Manhattan on March 25. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.