March 19, 2005

Box Score

Katie Spofford scored a free-position goal with 9.7 seconds to lift 19th ranked Penn to an 8-7 victory over Yale in the Ivy Leaugue opener of women's lacrosse at Franklin Field.

Spofford, fouled with 11.7 seconds left after taking the ball from midfield, fell down after coming in contact with two Yale players. She took one step and then fired a high shot over the shoulder of freshman goalie Ellen Cameron (2 saves).

Cameron, who played the last 23:17, replaced Lonnie Sarnell (2 saves).

The Bulldogs erased a 5-4 intermission deficit by scoring three of the first four goals in the second half to take leads of 6-5 and 7-6. Freshman Lauren Taylor tallied two of her three goals in the second half to put the Elis in position to grab a win.

Penn's Ali Ryan tied the game at 7-7 with 5:04 left and Liz Lorelli (4 saves) made a number of big stops to set up the game-winning goal.

Seniors Katherine Sargent and Alessandra Croffy each had two goals while Marya Myers chipped in a pair of assists, but it was not enough to prevent the third loss in a row for the 18th ranked Bulldogs.

Yale outshot Penn 21-19 but the Bulldogs lost six of the nine draws. Spofford led the Quakers (3-1) with three goals.

Report filed by Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity Director