Women's Lacrosse

Ithaca Edges Hartwick in Closing Minutes

ONEONTA, N.Y. - Kim Melda's sixth goal of the game with 2:09 left powered Ithaca to a 16-15 victory over Hartwick in an Empire 8 Conference women's lacrosse match-up, Saturday at Wright Stadium.

Ithaca, now 6-6 overall and 5-3 in E8 action, trailed 14-13 after Kelsey Campbell (Camillus, N.Y.) gave Hartwick its first lead since the midway stages of the first half. However, the Bombers knotted the game at 14-14 with 5:48 left on a goal by Medla and then took a one-goal lead following Becky Bedard's goal 31 seconds later. Campbell tied the game at 15-15 with her fourth goal of the afternoon on a free position shot with 3:19 left. After Medla connected with the go ahead goal, the Bombers picked up the draw control and held onto the ball the final two minutes without taking a shot.

Hartwick, now 3-10 overall and 1-6 in league play, came out roaring in the first six minutes. Tiffanie Bishop (Shoreham, Vt.), who posted a career-high five goals and six points, opened with an unassisted goal at 27:37 of the first. The Hawks received following goals by Stephanie Nutt (Shirley, N.Y.) at 26:58; Bishop at 26:10, and Campbell at 24:28 to take a 4-0 lead. After the Bombers raced back with four consecutive goals, the Hawks regained the advantage at 5-4 with Bishop's third goal of the game with 12:44 left in the opening half. Ithaca closed the final 11:44 with five goals and took a 9-5 lead into intermission. Five different players scored closing the half.

Trailing 13-7, the Hawks reeled off seven straight goals to retake the lead. Bishop and Campbell scored 48 seconds apart to pull the Hawks within four goals. Jamie Boulton (Camillus, N.Y.) followed with back-to-back goals at 13:37 and 13:05 to cut the deficit to two. Katie Thorpe (South Windsor, Conn.) followed Boulton's pair with two of her own at 10:54 and 8:32 respectively to tie the game at 13-13.

Campbell finished with six points (four goals, two assists), while Boulton collected a five-point afternoon (two goals, three assists). Heading into Sunday's finale, Boulton needs two more assists to move into a tie for fifth all time at Hartwick for helpers in a career.

Medla finished with seven points on the afternoon for Ithaca (six goals, one assist) and Bedard ended with one goal and five assists.

Danielle DePerno (Cortland, N.Y.) saved seven shots for Hartwick and Emily Brooks stopped three shots for IC.

The Hawks will close the 2008 season Sunday afternoon against league rival Elmira. The game gets started at 1 p.m. at Wright Stadium. Prior to the start, five graduating seniors will be honored.

ITHACA 16, HARTWICK 15

Ithaca 9 7 16
Hartwick 5 10 15

HARTWICK GOALS: Tiffanie Bishop 5 (6,7,8,9,10); Kelsey Campbell 4 (42,43,44,45); Jamie Boulton 2 (23,24); Katie Thorpe 2 (14,15); Stephanie Nutt 1 (8); Jen Kaye 1 (10).

HARTWICK ASSISTS: Jamie Boulton 3; Kelsey Campbell 2; Stephanie Nutt 2; Tiffanie Bishop 1; Jen Kaye 1; Katie Thorpe 1

HARTWICK SAVES: Danielle DePerno 7