Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Elizabeth Ferrara Mary Clare Taylor scored twice in the Greyhounds 21-15 Big East victory over the Huskies this past Saturday.

Media Credit: Elizabeth Ferrara The Loyola offense was on fire against UConn with ten different Greyhounds adding to the final tally.

By Pete Theis
Staff Writer

The Loyola women's lacrosse team's offense was running on all four cylinders Saturday afternoon at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field as the Greyhounds put a 21-spot on the board in a hard-fought victory against Big East Rival Connecticut, 21-15. Ten different Hounds contributed to the most goals scored by Loyola since 2002, when they beat American 25-4. It was also the most goals the Hounds (3-5, 1-2 Big East) have ever scored in conference play.

"It's important to share the wealth offensively," head coach Kerri O'Day said. "It's very hard to beat a team that has 10 different threats on offense."

Freshman Abby Rehfuss proved to be the top threat as she tallied eight points, including four goals and a career-high four assists. Classmate Cara Filippelli and senior Alicyn Brunnett followed with three scores apiece.

"We want to have a balanced scoring attack, and we accomplished that today by getting goals form 10 different people," O'Day said.

Both teams jumped out of the gates on offense, and midway through the first half the score was tied at three. Loyola then took charge, going on a 5-1 run with two scores from Brunnett, a tally from senior Kate Filippelli, a score from junior Mary Clare Taylor and capped off by junior Elizabeth Weber's goal. Neither team scored for the next eight minutes until UConnn closed the half with a score from Katy Ryan, who led all scores with seven goals, setting the score at 8-5.

Ryan opened up the second half with her fourth goal of the game, sparking the Huskies' offensive explosion. UConn scored three unanswered goals in three minutes to tie the contest at eight. After the Hounds called a timeout to regroup, junior Colleen O'Keefe fed Cara Filippelli with a brilliant pass inside to give Loyola a one-goal lead. A scramble ensued on the next possession, but O'Keefe gained control off of the draw, raced down to the net and put home another goal to give Loyola a 10-8 lead.

After trading goals, Ryan cut it to one at 11-10 with just under 20 minutes to go, but Brunnett responded with a score, and UConn never got closer than two the rest of the game. Rehfuss put Loyola on top 13-10 with 15 minutes remaining in the game, and after a 3-0 Greyhound run, the game was out of reach. Kate Filippelli started the run by feeding sophomore Bridget O'Keefe for a score right before Filippelli scored herself. Freshman Grace Gavin then recorded an unassisted goal to put Loyola ahead 16-11.

Loyola then stepped up their defensive pressure, while running off four more unanswered scores to go up 20-13. Rehfuss closed out the Loyola scoring in the final minute with her fourth goal, making it 21-15.

Loyola out-shot the Huskies 42-27. Senior Kristen Stone caused four turnovers for the Loyola defense and also added three ground balls. The Filippelli sisters and Gavin had four draw controls apiece for Loyola, and the Hounds held a 23-15 advantage in draw controls.

"We took advantage off of the draw controls and their fouls," O'Day said. "We were able to convert them into scores and shots on goal."

Loyola will travel to South Bend, Ind., next Saturday March 22 for a tough 1 p.m. matchup against Notre Dame.

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