University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
6-10, 2-4
University of Vermont
11-6, 4-2
Hinkle Records Game-High Six Points; Women's Lax Comeback Falls Short, 12-10, at Vermont
4/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Kayleigh Hinkle (Glenelg, Md.) recorded two goals and four assists for a game-high six points, but the University of New Hampshire women's lacrosse team was defeated 12-10 by the University of Vermont at Virtue Field in a Saturday afternoon America East game from which only the victor would advance to the conference tournament.
UNH ends the 2015 season at 6-10 overall and 2-4 in America East. UVM, which has won five consecutive meetings in this battle of the 'Cats, improved to 11-6, 4-2. The Catamounts recorded the edge in shots (27-24), ground balls (19-11) and turnovers (11-13), while the draw controls were even at 12.
Hinkle, who entered the program's top 10 career points list at No. 10 by increasing her total to 155 (84g, 71a), also recorded four draw controls, two ground balls and one caused turnover. Laura Puccia (Fairport, N.Y.) scored four goals while both Laura McHoul (Westwood, Mass.; two goals) and Rachael Nock (Severna Park, Md.; 1g, 1a) both tallied two points.
UNH starting goalkeeper Kate Clancy (Barrington, R.I.) exited the game when Vermont took an 11-6 lead at 13:32 of the second half; she was credited with two saves and charged with the loss. Sarah Lambert (Auburn, N.H.) allowed one goal the rest of the way and did not record a save.
UVM was led offensively by Jessica Roach (3g, 2a) and Danielle Seifert (2g, 2a). Courtney Cole and Vanessa VanderZalm scored two goals apiece. VanderZalm also had six draw controls and four ground balls, while Seifert added five draws. Meg Hopkins made five of her seven saves in the second half.
UNH trailed 12-8 with less than eight minutes remaining in the game when Amy LeBel (Charlton, N.Y.) caused a turnover to give possession to the Wildcats. New Hampshire cleared the ball to the attack zone and Nock scored an unassisted goal at 7:10 to trim the deficit to 12-9.
Hinkle won the ensuing draw control and, one minute later, she fired a shot high. New Hampshire turned the ball over 20 seconds later, but quickly got the ball back when Marissa Gurello (Manorville, N.Y.) executed a stick check and Krissy Schafer (Longmeadow, Mass.) grabbed the ground ball. Hinkle shot wide and then Gurello sent a shot high before Nock set up Hinkle's 34th goal of the season to lift the visiting 'Cats within 12-10 at 4:06.
Seifert gained possession of the next draw, however, and Vermont called time out at 3:31. The Catamounts sustained possession for more than two minutes until Nicole Grote (Ellicott City, Md.) forced a turnover with Emma Kriss (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) corralling the ground ball with 48 seconds on the clock.
UNH was kept at bay, however, until Teagan Northrup (Longmeadow, Mass.) got a shot on goal that was stopped by Hopkins with 11 seconds to play. Hopkins secured the ball and with it, the victory and berth in the America East tourney.
New Hampshire won the opening draw control on McHoul's stick and took a 1-0 lead when Puccia converted Hinkle's pass into a goal at 28:33. That assist marked the 150th point of Hinkle's career.
UVM responded with three consecutive goals – a pair by VanderZalm sandwiched around Roach's free-position tally – to build a 3-1 advantage at 25:41.
Hinkle pulled the Wildcats within 3-2 on a free-position goal at 24:53, then Northrup set up Schafer's game-tying tally at 20:54.
Seifert scored consecutive goals at 20:17 and 17:52 to put the home team back in front, 5-3. Alison Bolt hit the post at 17:13 and moments later Seifert also hit the post to keep the margin at two goals.
UNH inched closer at 15:40 when Hinkle recorded her second assist of the game on McHoul's 26th goal of the season. Puccia lifted the Wildcats into a 5-5 tie on her second goal of the game and 24th of the season on a free-position shot at 11:19.
Bolt was once again denied by a post at 9:54, then 16 seconds later Clancy made a save against Roach to keep the score deadlocked. At the other end of the field, Hinkle's free position was stopped by Hopkins at 8:29. Hopkins then turned aside Northrup's shot at 5:22.
The teams exchanged turnovers until Courtney Cole scored with 26 seconds remaining in the first half to give UVM a 6-5 lead – a lead they would not relinquish.
Seifert won the ensuing draw control and Roach fired high as time expired.
McHoul won the opening draw control of the second half, but the Wildcats did not capitalize on their opportunity to level the score when Nock's shot sailed wide of the cage at 28:58 and the Catamounts gained possession.
Bolt extended the advantage to 7-5 at 24:29 and Roach's free-position goal at 23:12 gave the home team a three-goal margin.
Puccia's third goal of the game, again off a pass from Hinkle, trimmed the deficit to 8-6 at 20:33. McHoul gained possession on the ensuing draw but Hopkins preserved the two-goal lead with a save against Schafer at 19:54.
UVM scored goals 34 seconds apart – by Alex Bernier at 17:07 and Roach at 16:33 – to quickly make it 10-6 and Cole converted Roach's pass into a goal at 13:32 to give the Catamounts their largest lead of the game, 11-6.
New Hampshire called time out, inserted Lambert into the game in goal and Hinkle won the draw. Puccia's shot, however, was stopped by Hopkins. The Wildcat quickly regained possession and the combination of Hinkle-to-McHoul provided a goal at 11:59. McHoul won the draw and Puccia potted her fourth goal of the game 35 secons later to lift UNH within 11-8.
Momentum continued in UNH's favor with Grote gaining possession on the next draw control, but the Wildcats turned the ball over and Elena McWright scored to push the lead to 12-8 at 9:06.
UVM won the draw and Bernier's shot sailed high with 8:13 remaining. LeBel then forced a turnover that led to the Wildcats' late comeback effort.
The end of the season also marks the end of UNH lax careers for six seniors – Becca Graves (Rowley, Mass.), Hinkle, Kriss, Brooke McGillis (Berwyn, Pa.), Nock and Puccia. Hinkle leaves the program ranked No. 5 on the all-time assist list (71) and 10th in points (155), whereas Puccia is No. 8 in career goals (131).
