Loss jeopardizes NCAA bid for Women's Lax

With the regular season coming to a close and the Women's Lacrosse team fighting for a bid into the NCAA tournament, the Blue Jays defeated the Hofstra Pride 15-12 last Wednesday, but then fell to George Mason 11-8 on Saturday in a loss that could have important implications on their postseason aspirations to reach the NCAA Tournament.

In their contest against Hofstra, the Jays survived a ferocious late-game comeback by the Pride after Hopkins opened up a 12-5 lead, but then allowed the Pride to tie the game before Hopkins responded in the waning minutes to take the lead for good. Against George Mason, the Jays led at halftime but then allowed six straight goals before losing. The Jays now will look to win their final games of the season, first against Towson last night in a game that ended too late to be included in this edition and then against Cornell on Saturday, and hope that they earn a bid into the tournament.

Against the Pride, the Blue Jays showcased their potent offensive attack early in the contest. Although Hofstra got on the board first just 3:39 into the game, the Blue Jays quickly responded, scoring four consecutive goals to take a commanding 4-1 lead.

Hopkins' scoring run came was started by sophomore midfielder Heidi Pearce's goal, which was followed by two goals by senior attacker Jamie Larrimore and one by junior attacker Meghan Burnett who would go on to score a total of four goals during the day. Following the Blue Jay rally, the Pride recovered with a goal by Jen Maget, but Hopkins fired right back with two scores of their own, one by junior attacker Liz Holland and Burnett's second to increase the their lead to 6-2.

The pattern repeated itself once again as Maget scored and yet again Hopkins countered with two more goals, one by Larrimore and one by freshman midfielder Kristen Miller with just over two minutes remaining before the half to give the Jays a commanding 8-3 lead. The second half opened with much of the same, as the two teams traded goals again as Pearce and senior attacker Erin Wellner each scored for the Jays, but Kathleen Mikowski and Megan Zimmer scored for the Pride. The Jays followed with two more goals, one by Burnett and one by freshman defender Lacey-Leigh Hentz and expanded their lead to what seemed an invincible 12-5 margin over six minutes into the second half.

But then the Pride mounted a ferocious comeback, going on a 7-0 run that lasted just over twelve minutes to tie the score at 12-12. Mikowski and Zimmer each scored their second and third goals of the day during the scoring run.

However the Pride rally did little more than wake the Blue Jays, who responded with three goals, one by Burnett and two by Wellner, in the final ten minutes of the game to take the lead and ultimately win the con test by a score of 15-12.

Despite faltering in the second half and then having to score several late goals to assure victory, Blue Jays players hailed the victory as an impressive one.

"We played really well as a team in the first half. Even though we let them come back in the second half, it was still one of our best overall lacrosse games," said Pearce.

The Jays' following game, a home contest versus George Mason, did not have such a favorable outcome for Hopkins who took a 5-4 lead at halftime but then surrendered six unanswered goals to start the second half en route to losing 11-8.

The game was largely one of scoring streaks, and the Patriots got ahead early, scoring the game's first four goals before Hopkins finally got on the board and scored the game's next five goals to eventually take a 5-4 halftime lead.

The Jays first two scores on the day came both by virtue of Pearce. Then, with 6:29 remaining before the end of the half, Larrimore scored a free position goal to cut the Patriot lead to just one. Just under two minutes later, the Jays scored again; this time Larrimore assisted Peterson to tie the score.

Finally, with just 16 seconds left in the half, sophomore midfielder Kate Barcomb scored off a pass by Pearce to put the Jays ahead before the intermission.

By scoring the final five goals before halftime, the Blue Jays managed to enter the second half in front of a home crowd with momentum working fully in their favor.

But the Patriots were able to steal Hopkins' energy at the start of the second half, as George Mason mounted an impressive 6-0 scoring run to take an insurmountable 10-5 lead with just over eleven minutes remaining in the contest.

The Blue Jays attempted a comeback, with goals by Burnett and two by Larrimore in the final minutes of the game, but their efforts were not enough and they fell short of victory by a score of 11-8.

Following the loss, the Jays were quick to note that their performance was not up to their standards or expectations.

"I just think that none of us really showed up for that game," said a regretful Pearce.

"After the game, I think we were really sad about the loss to George Mason. But now we're ready to play two huge games for us."

Those games will be the final two of the regular season, but even victories in those contests will not assure the Blue Jays a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

"We have to win these next two games. Depending on what else happens we will see whether we make the NCAA's," said Pearce.

And although the loss to George Mason could have devastating implications on the Blue Jays' hopes of earning a berth into this season's NCAA's, players are optimistic about their chances.

"If we had won against the Patriots, we would have had a much better chance but we're not completely out of it yet," said Pearce.