Crawford’s Career Day Paces ‘Cats to Season-opening 16-11 Win in Lacrosse

Sunday, February 15

Davidson, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

C.W. Post

Crawford’s Career Day Paces ‘Cats to Season-opening 16-11 Win in Lacrosse

2/15/2009 4:12:10 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Junior Jen Crawford (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) turned in a career day with a game-high six goals, including two during a game-changing run in the second half, to guide the Davidson women's lacrosse team to a solid 16-11 season-opening win against C.W. Post on Sunday afternoon at Richardson Stadium.

The 'Cats, fresh off a school-record 11 wins last year, opened up the 2009 campaign with their fourth season-opening win in the last five years. The win was also the Wildcats' first season-opening home win since 2005.

In both teams first contests of the year, it was a battle to the end until the Wildcats broke up a 9-all tie with five straight goals midway through the second half to seal the win.

Tied at 9-all, Davidson's Erin Keitel (Carlsbad, Calif.) drew a foul after picking up the draw control for a free-position shot, which she capitalized on by scoring her fourth goal of the game to break up the tie and start Davidson's 5-0 run. Keitel was a perfect 4-for-4 on free-position shots and the Wildcats were 6-of-7 overall.

Crawford then pushed the lead out to three, 12-9, with back-to-back goals and 12:58 on the clock.

Fellow classmate Haley Cook (Darien, Conn.) followed Crawford by picking up her second score of the game and freshman Anna Smith (Newburyport, Mass.) closed out the 5-0 run with her first collegiate goal on an assist from senior Becky Horton (Walnut Creek, Calif.) at the 7:42 mark for a 14-9 Wildcat lead.

Smith and senior Callie Seymour (Denver, Colo.) proceeded to finish off the scoring for Davidson in the last four minutes to seal the victory at 16-11.

Trailing 8-3 at halftime, the Pioneers went on the offensive attack and opened the second half with four straight goals, two of them on free-position shots, to cut the Wildcat lead down to one at 8-7. Jaclyn Napoli, who led C.W. Post with three goals, started the rally with a strike at the 27:54 mark, and then assisted on the next Pioneer goal three minutes later.

Crawford gave Davidson a brief 9-7 lead on its next possession with her fourth score of the game at the 21:04 mark, but Napoli earned her second assist of the half on a Michelle Fucich goal, and Brianne Jackolski knotted things up with a free position goal at the 19:01 mark.

C.W. Post was hurt late by three yellow cards in the last 10 minutes of the contest, forcing it to play a player down and never was able to recover.

In all, six 'Cats found the back of the net. Keitel had a strong debut for the Wildcats with four goals to follow up Crawford's six goals, while Cook gave the 'Cats three players with multiple goals, netting two goals of her own and also picking up an assist. Both Crawford and Cook were 30-goal scorers last year for Davidson.

Besides Napoli's three goals, Samantha Lyons and Katie Hogan each tallied two goals apiece, while four other Pioneers hit for single goals.

Junior goalkeeper Michelle Pav (Golden, Colo.) registered a game-best nine saves, including four of them on free-position shots. The Pioneers' Sam Powers was credited with five saves.

Davidson stays at home to host Bucknell on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. The Wildcats will be facing one of its former assistant coaches, Caline McHenry, who was named the Bucknell head coach in 2007.