April 5, 2008

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Lauren Aksionoff scored four goals but could not overcome a six-goal deficit as American fell to Virginia Tech, 14-11, in non-conference women's lacrosse action on Saturday in Blacksburg.

Liz Carpenter opened up the scoring for Virginia Tech, scoring on a free position shot just over two minutes into the contest, putting the Hokies up 1-0. Allie Emala scored from point blank range on the possession off the draw control to lead 2-0. American (5-8) won the ensuing draw, but Jackie Lane's shot was saved.

Aksionoff scored her 19th of the season with a strong move to goal with just under 23 minutes remaining in the half to put the Eagles on the board, and cut the lead to 2-1. The Hokies went up 4-1, scoring a pair of goals less than 30 seconds apart, and Eagle goalie Kristine Vida made a pair of key saves to keep the lead at three half way through the first.

Virginia Tech struck again from a free position shot and upped its lead to 5-1 with 10:51 on the clock. Lauren Lane scored her first of the game from the eight-meter mark and Kira Sonberg tallied on the possession from the draw control, and American trailed 5-3 with just a minute elapsed off the clock. Vida made six saves, including two from free positions on the Hokies next two offensive possession to keep the Eagles within two.

Virginia Tech (3-11) scored the final goal of the half with 0.4 seconds left on the clock when a shot by Rachel Culp deflected into the goal to give the Hokies a 6-3 lead heading into the second.

Culp opened the second half with a tally at 26:23 and Emala finished her second of the day from Kady McBrearty, putting Virginia Tech up 8-3. Emala then returned the favor, assisting a McBrearty goal and the Hokies led 9-3. Amanda Makoid made it 9-4 with less than 10 minutes gone in the second, but Emala responded with her third of the game, and it was 10-4 with 19:21 remaining.

With Virginia Tech up 11-4, Lisa Schaaf scored her first of the game, but Carpenter took the draw right back down the field and beat Vida, to make it 12-5 with 12:50 left to go in the game. The Eagles won the next draw and Jackie Lane scored her team-leading 30th goal of the season to make it 12-6. American would strike again at 10:44 as J. Lane fed a wide-open Aksionoff just to the right of the net for the score, but back came Virginia Tech with a quick strike just 10 seconds later, making the score 12-7.

The Lane's combined for the next Eagle goal, as Lauren finished off a feed from Jackie, and American trailed 12-8. Makoid scored from eight meters at 8:48 as American attempted its third comeback in as many games, down 12-9. Culp scored her fourth of the game to thwart the Eagle rally but American would tally again as Aksionoff scored on J. Lane assist to make it 14-10 with 3:43 to play.

Aksionoff finished off her fourth and the Eagles found themselves down 14-11, but time running short, with only 1:53 left. Virginia Tech won the draw and ran the clock out to earn the 14-11 win.

Aksionoff had four goals and Lauren Lane scored two goals. Jackie Lane finished with a goal and three assists and moved into third place on the AU career points (155) and goals (109) lists.

Vida finished with 17 saves and 12 ground balls and Tahra Johnson won a game-high five draw controls.

AU will play its next game at Richmond on Wednesday, April 9 at 3 p.m. before resuming Patriot League play at noon on Sunday at Holy Cross.