Tweet #HFUTigersWLAX


BOX SCORE


Kutztown, Pa. - The Holy Family University women's lacrosse team scored six second-half goals as the Tigers picked up an 8-5 non-conference victory at Kutztown University on Thursday afternoon.  It marked the first-ever meeting between the Tigers and Golden Bears.
 
Holy Family improves to 5-4 overall after the victory, while Kutztown falls to 2-3 overall.
 
Sophomore Brianna Lancetta (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace) and freshman Nicole Braungart (Medford, N.J./Bishop Eustace) combined for seven of the team's eight goals to lead the offense.  Lancetta finished with a season-high four goals, while Braungart netted three scores. 
 
Senior Stephanie McNesby (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) also scored a goal in the victory to go along with four draw controls.  With her score, McNesby inches closer to the program's all-time scoring record set my former standout Gina Mansi (Washington Twp., N.J./Washington Twp.) (2009-2012).   Mansi set the new standard last season with 184 career points.  McNesby currently has 177 points in her career.
 
Also for Holy Family, sophomore Caitlin Carrezola (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) led the team with five ground balls, while fellow classmate Kimber Kisselback (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) added three ground balls and caused two turnovers.  Senior Maria Mattioli (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Nazareth) also came away with two caused turnovers on the defensive end. 
 
For Kutztown, senior Katie Feairheller and junior Rosa Buffolino each scored a pair of goals for the Golden Bears.  Sophomore Jillian Spencer also scored for the home squad.  Senior Gina Carmina led the team with five ground balls and a game-high three caused turnovers.  She also dished out an assist on the offensive side of the ball.
 
It was a low scoring game for the first 30 minutes of action as each team scored a pair of goals.  Holy Family opened the scoring as Lancetta gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead at the 24:47 mark.  Kutztown followed with two straight goals to take a 2-1 lead.  Buffolino's goal with 17:58 to play until halftime gave the Golden Bears the advantage. 
 
From that point, it took nearly 16 minutes before the game's next goal would be scored.  It came from Braungart as she tallied her first of three goals of the game with two minutes remaining in the half to tie the game at 2-2. 
 
The game remained tied heading into halftime, but wouldn't last long as the second half began.  Lancetta scored back-to-back goals to open the half to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead with the latest coming at the 26:16 mark.
 
However, as the half progressed Kutztown would score two unanswered goals to tie the game at 4-4.  Feairheller tied the game at the 17:18 mark after converting a free position shot attempt.  Ied for h
 
The game didn't remain tied for long as McNesby came through with her first and only score of the game to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead.  McNesby's goal turned out to be the game-winner and started an offensive surge for Holy Family.  The offense exploded for four straight goals to double the lead to 8-4.  Lancetta capped the scoring with 1:32 to play in regulation after Braungart converted back-to-back free position shots. 
 
Kutztown added a goal in the final minute to make the score 8-5. 
 
Freshman goalkeeper Grace Deckert (Jarrettsville, Md./Fallston) recorded nine saves for the Tigers, while her counterpart, junior JoAnn McLaughlin, also tallied nine saves. 
 
Holy Family controlled the draws during the course of the game by a 10-5 margin.  Both teams were pretty even in ground balls with Kutztown holding a slight edge, 25-22.  The Tigers outshot the Golden Bears, 22-20.
 
Holy Family is back in action on Wednesday, April 3 as the Tigers travel to face Chestnut Hill in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contest.  Game time is slated for 4 p.m.