Box Score

Purchase, NY (Mar. 15, 2014) – Two pairs of second-half goals from Samantha Rich and Nathalie Lavelanet, coupled with 15 saves from Jess Lindsay, including several key grabs late in the game, sealed the first win in program history for the Purchase College women's lacrosse team Saturday at home.

Lindsay deflected a free position shot with about 11 minutes to go and duplicated the feat just under the seven-minute marker, adding highlight reel save after highlight reel save to preserve a two-goal victory, 7-5, over Rosemont College.

Rich (SO/Providence, RI) and Lavelanet (JR/South Salem, NY) tallied the team's final four goals, with Lavelanet netting a score that pushed the Panther lead to 6-4 and later 7-4, including an important strike off a free position shot that gave Purchase a comfortable cushion.

Rosemont would challenge in the closing minutes as Gina Ragona helped the Ravens close within two on her third goal of the game, but Lindsay and the Panther defense tightened up and put the finishing touches on a memorable afternoon of lacrosse for head coach Francesca DeLorenzo, her new coaching staff and a squad that is ever-improving.

"We've put in a lot of work in the offseason and it's nice to say that we are undefeated for one day," said a smiling DeLorenzo after the game.

Although the trio of Rich, Lavelanet and Lindsay catapulted the Panthers to victory in the second half, it was a group effort, with everyone on the squad making contributions, including fellow starters Madelaine Reis (JR/Port Washington, NY), Randi Langdon (FR/Buffalo, NY), Jasmine Rippey (JR/Deansboro, NY), Mikaela Connors (SO/Grand Island, NY), Hannah Harris (SR/Northampton, MA) and Rebecca Small (SR/South Glastonbury, CT), as well as the three stars of the first half, who all collected goals.                 

Down 4-3 at the break, Rich evened a tightly contested game at four apiece, scoring an unassisted goal. She took the ball right in and fired a shot past Rosemont goalkeeper Nia Hall. 

Rich would take the game over early in the second half, netting back-to-back goals in the opening two minutes of the stanza. The speedy Rich ran past defenders on consecutive trips down the field, including an 80-yard run, and swiftly handed the hosts a one-goal lead.

Purchase surrendered three early goals and trailed 3-0 before firing back and scoring three straight of its own in the first.  

Rosemont's midfielder Ragona scored the game's first goal and then pushed the lead to 3-0 midway through the period. In between, Ravens attacker Jennifer South made it 2-0.

The Panthers responded by getting on the board off a nifty move by LeiAnna Frazier (SR/Brooklyn, NY). The unassisted tally made it 3-1.

Purchase kept the pressure on as Maria Papp (SO/White Plains, NY), like Frazier, scored her first goal of the season. The midfielder found the back of the net off a free position attempt.

Papp's goal reenergized Purchase, now in its second season as a full varsity program and its first under the direction of a new coaching staff. Shortly after, with 7:56 remaining before the break, the Panthers tied the score on a goal by Annette Elson (SO/Las Vegas, NV). The unassisted score set off the Panther bench and prompted a timeout by the Ravens.

Over the next six minutes, Purchase and Rosemont traded some strong defensive play before the visitors managed to sneak one in the goal in the final 1:16. South provided the go-ahead strike for Rosemont for a 4-3 halftime lead.

But Purchase would have the last say over the final 30 minutes, as the Panthers collected their first win in program history. The team left the field to a standing ovation from the crowd.

The Panthers will look to build off today's monumental win when they travel to USMMA on Mar. 19. Following its road goad, Purchase will return home next weekend to host Farmingdale State on Saturday at 1 p.m.