New Britain, Conn. ? Junior Ashley Levering (Glenwood, Md. / Glenelg) and sophomores Alana Beck (Carle Place, N.Y. / Old Dominion) and Missy Sunseri (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Mt. Lebanon) combined for 21 points as the Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team coasted to an 18-14 victory over Central Connecticut State this afternoon in Northeast Conference action.
Levering scored a season-high four goals and added three assists, while Beck led the offense with four goals and four helpers. Sunseri matched Beck's assist mark with four of her own as well as adding two goals.
Juniors Kara Blakeley (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine Richland) and Emily Tomlinson (Springfield, Va. / West Springfield) finished with a hat-trick each.
After a back-and-forth battle by both teams through the first nine minutes of the game, the Colonials (3-9, 2-3 NEC) took command with a 5-0 run and never looked back. Tomlinson and Levering started the scoring spurt with a marker each followed by a tally from freshman Ashley Trombetta (Sykesville, Md. / Century) and two by Beck. Trombetta also picked up an assist to finish the game with two points.
Central Connecticut cut the lead to four with a goal by Lyndsey Mastandrea, who led the Blue Devils with six goals, at the 12:04 mark. Levering would answer the goal with her second of the day only to see the home team follow with back-to-back markers to come within three.
However, goals by Blakeley, Beck, Sunseri, junior Jillian Howley (East Northport, N.Y. / Northport) and Tomlinson made the score, 11-3. CCSU caught some steam though over the final six minutes, outscoring the Colonials, 3-2, to take a 13-6 deficit into halftime.
The Blue Devils made the most of their momentum in the second half with an 8-5 advantage in scoring. Despite the late rush by CCSU, RMU kept the score out of reach thanks to goals by Tomlinson, Levering, Beck and two by Blakeley, while the defense forced Central Connecticut to commit 11 turnovers in the half.
Both RMU goalkeepers shared time with sophomore Erica Webb (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck) picking up the win with 11 saves and nine goals allowed in 50:23 while senior Lauren Hartsfield (Cumming, Ga. / South Forsyth) stopped two shots and allowed five goals over 9:37.
CCSU's Alice Lee stopped 23 of 45 shots in 60 minutes worth of work. She now has 52 career saves in two games against the Colonials.
The Colonials return to action this weekend when they host Long Island on Friday, April 11 in an NEC match-up at Joe Walton Stadium. Opening draw is set for 4:00 p.m.
