Defense Dominates, Haney, Badolato Lead Offense in Women's Lacrosse Home Win

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team began their conference season with a convincing 14-3 victory over Charleston (WV) on Sunday afternoon.
 
After taking the opening draw, FSU faced adversity early on as a turnover and green card put them down a player, but senior Grace Dickey came up with a huge save off a free position to keep UC off the board. Graduate Camden DeMaio was then denied off a free position but the Bobcats got the ball right back after junior Izzy Kelly caused a Golden Eagle turnover. Junior Neila Haney had an effort saved but Frostburg maintained possession, as DeMaio found senior Julia Badolato for the game's opener.
 
 Both teams struggled to take care of the ball over the next seven minutes, combining for five turnovers until Kelly got another CT, with senior Megan Keller picking up the loose ball and setting FSU away on offense. Having gotten the clear, senior Kerri Hayes made a solo run through the Charleston defense to put the Bobcats up 2-0. Dickey made another save in net, while Kelly caused her third turnover of the period to end the first with the two-goal lead.
 
UC began the second frame by taking the opening draw but immediately turned the ball over after pressure from senior Delaney Devers. At the other end, DeMaio put home a free position goal before turning provider to junior Emily Lamoreaux for a pair of scores a minute apart and a 4-0 advantage. The Golden Eagles were whistled for a pair of hard fouls that resulted in two yellow cards, the latter of which Haney turned into another free position goal, forcing a Charleston timeout.
 
Junior Daniella Boss ensured that Frostburg didn't let off the gas, as she caused another turnover, with Devers getting the groundball. After Hayes had a free position saved, Badolato got the ball on the inbounds and went straight to net for her second of the game and a 6-0 lead. Haney was shown a green card as UC tried to get back into the game, but Dickey made back-to-back saves 20 seconds apart to keep the visitors off the board. Devers and Kelly continued to keep the Golden Eagle offense at bay with two more CT's, as Charleston came closest to scoring with 90 seconds left in the half by hitting the post. Coming back the other way, freshman Megan Gray put her stamp on the game with her first career goal after a great pass from senior Natalie Williams, putting the score at 7-0 going to the break.
 
DeMaio took the first draw of the second half, while Charleston was shown a quick green card to go a player down, allowing Badolato to find Williams for a goal just over a minute in. Lamoreaux then came up with a caused turnover as Frostburg's offense continued to click, as Haney passed to Badolato to complete her hat trick before scoring herself on another free position as the game turned to a running clock up 10-0. Devers kept up the defensive pressure by causing another turnover, then Dickey intercepted a pass and senior Krissy Milburn joined in on the fun by poking the ball away. With five minutes to go in the quarter, Boss netted her first of the day, just getting her shot underneath the crossbar for an 11-0 lead. It took until two minutes remaining in the third for UC to finally get on the board, as Alyse Weber took advantage of a free position goal to make it 11-1 going to the fourth.
 
Neither goalkeeper was tested for the first five minutes of the final period until Weber netted her second of the day on another free position to stop the running clock. Another Golden Eagle shot hit the post before Devers helped restore control with yet another CT. After a Bobcat timeout settled the nerves, Haney fired off three goals in three minutes to grow the lead up to 14-2. Weber was able to complete her hat trick with just over a minute left, while Williams and junior Jessie Bare polished off two late caused turnovers to put the final score at 14-3.
 
Haney and Badolato dominated offensively, combining for eight goals and a pair of assists, while Devers enjoyed a career-high six caused turnovers, tied for the third-most in a single game in program history.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 4-6 on the year, while Charleston falls to 7-2. FSU remains at home to face West Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday, March 26 at 5 p.m., where the game will be played in recognition of Morgan's Message. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.