Late Goal by Rothar Give Rams Win in Home Opener
Farmingdale State - 10, Western Connecticut - 9
Farmingdale, N.Y. -
A goal with 2:34 remaining in the second half from senior midfielder Justine Rothar (Levittown, N.Y.) gave the Rams a 10-9 victory over Western Connecticut (2-1) this afternoon in the home opener for the Farmingdale State women's lacrosse team (1-1)...
In the first half, Farmingdale opened the scoring at 27:58 with a goal from junior midfielder Kim Rigney (Holbrook, N.Y.), assisted by Rothar for the 1-0 lead. West Conn evened the score 38 seconds later on a shot from Brianna Mitterando (Mastic Beach, N.Y.), 1-1. Sophomore midfielder Emily Williams (Centerport, N.Y.) scored with 23 minutes remaining to put the Rams ahead 2-1, before freshman midfielder Megan Erler (Smithtown, N.Y.) scored on a free position to make it 3-1.
West Conn made it 3-2 at 18:11 on a junior midfielder Jessica Bouwman (New Milford, Conn.) goal, assisted by Mitterando. But Williams and Erler connected to put Farmingdale ahead by two again, 4-2, with 15:00 showing on the clock. West Conn tied it up at 4-4 with two goals in a minute span from sophomore attack Devon Edwards (Islip, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Lauren Poppe (Brookfield, Conn.).
A goal from sophomore attack Carly Schneider (Merrick, N.Y.) put the Rams up 5-4, but Edwards tied it again on a free position to make it 5-5 with 5:05 on the clock. Rothar scored the final goal of the half on a pass from junior defender Gina Ciaravino (Levittown, N.Y.).
In the second, Williams scored her third goal of the day in the first two minutes (28:29) to put Farmingdale ahead 7-5. But West Conn would score four straight and would hold a 9-7 lead with 12 minutes left to play.
Junior defender Chelsea Bjornsson (Levittown, N.Y.) started the Rams game-winning rally with a goal on a pass from junior attack Krystin Shand (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) to cut the deficit to one, 9-8. Rothar scored an unassisted goal at 7:46 to tie the game, and then added her third and final tally at the two-minute mark for the eventual game-winner.
Rothar finished with five points (three goals and two assists), while Williams had three goals. Junior defender Emalee Ciampo (Plainview, N.Y.) caused a game-high five turnovers and had four ground balls. Junior goalkeeper Courtney Cook (Deer Park, N.Y.) made nine saves in the win.
For West Conn, Mitterando scored a game-high six points (three goals and three assists). Junior defender Marisa Vitti (West Haven, Conn.) caused four turnovers and Edwards had two goals and two assists. Freshman goalkeeper Karli Portnoy (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) made 13 saves in defeat.
The Rams will now host Wesleyan on Thursday, March 17th at 4:00 p.m.
*****