Post Classifieds
Clutch Bengals claim playoff spot
By Aaron Garland
On May 4, 2012
After losing to Fredonia 15-11 three weeks ago, Buffalo State's women's lacrosse team has a chance to
avenge that defeat in the first round of the SUNYAC playoffs.
The Bengals (12-5, 5-3 SUNYAC) fell to 1-3 in the conference after that loss to the Blue Devils and
their playoff chances were fading. However, with wins of 13-12 over Brockport (10-4, 5-3 SUNYAC) on
Wednesday and 22-10 over New Paltz (7-10, 2-6 SUNYAC) on Saturday, the Bengals clinched the third
seed in the four-team SUNYAC playoffs, setting up the rematch with Fredonia.
"Playoff runs are about peaking at the right time," head coach Meg Stevens said. "We encountered our
problems mid-season, but it's really not about mid-season. It's how you do at the end. "
"(The players) knew what we had to do four games ago. We talked about that we need to win out, and
their ability to win out with tough games was impressive. They're really showing their character as a
team these days."
A loss in either game last week would have eliminated the team from playoff contention, but the wins
capped off a late-season four-game winning streak, driving the Bengals to the postseason for the fifth
straight year.
There was plenty of drama last week, most notably against Brockport. The Bengals' season was in
jeopardy, but a pair of comebacks kept them alive.
The Golden Eagles opened the game on a 5-0 run, but the Bengals inched back, trailing 6-5 at the half.
After the teams traded goals to tie it at eight, Brockport went on a four-goal run to pull ahead 12-8.
It was all Bengals from there. The team held Brockport off the scoreboard for the final 18:49 and scored
five unanswered goals of their own to increase the lead. Mariah DeBolt's goal with 6:42 remaining
proved to be the winner. The defense buckled down and preserved the win from there.
Senior Karen Shaddock had three goals on the day, including her 81st of the year to set a new school
record for goals in a season. Junior Ashley Caporizzo also had three goals and an assist, and senior
Kendyl Clarkson had five assists to round out the offensive leaders.
The Bengals built off the win and clinched their playoff berth with the home win against New Paltz. In
the win, the team tied a single-game school record for goals scored.
Stevens said she credits much of the explosive day to the offensive end and the set-plays that were run.
"We really worked through some offensive sets," she said. "We wanted some flow - obviously, Karen
(Shaddock) and Kendyl (Clarkson) continued to step up."
"Karen broke some other record, and that's great, but it really was good team offense. We've been
working - moving the ball a little bit, playing good team offense, creating some opportunities, and it
worked well."
Shaddock broke the school record for points in a game, finishing with 13 on nine goals and four assists.
"(It's) definitely a minor achievement," Shaddock said of breaking the record. "I mean, I don't take it for
granted, but I also (see) the bigger picture and I've had one goal since I came in freshman year - and
that's to win the SUNYAC."
The Bengals thrived on creating turnovers, turning them into offense while limiting their own mistakes -
forcing 24 and committing just 14.
Freshman goalkeeper Colleen George made a few key saves early and Shaddock had five first-half goals
to propel the Bengals to a 12-5 halftime lead. After allowing New Paltz to cut the lead to 13-9 with a
four-goal run early in the second half, Stevens called a timeout to settle her team down. It worked, and
they finished the game on a 9-1 run.
Caporizzo had four goals and two assists on the day. Her third goal was the 100th tally of her career.
Sophomore Becca Martinez also contributed to the goal-parade, chipping in four. Clarkson spent the
game setting up goals. She finished with nine assists, eclipsing the 100-point mark on the season.
Clarkson noted that the Bengals have not forgotten about their last loss, which came at the hands of the
Blue Devils, and that being the underdog is good because it relieves some pressure.
"We should be pretty confident," Clarkson said about the team's upcoming playoff game. "I think
there's always a revenge factor in there. It's nice being in (this) position because we already lost to
Fredonia, and so we're really the underdogs coming in and they think that they have it."
Stevens said she was satisfied with the regular season, but with her team playing at its highest level all
year, is now focused on Fredonia.
When asked if the recent winning streak has given her team confidence moving forward, "It does," said
Stevens. "It's got to. You have to feel good - but now the real work begins, and I just said (to the team)
congrats on a (good) season, but now the real work starts."
The SUNYAC semifinal against second-seeded Fredonia (14-3, 7-1 SUNYAC) will be played on Friday at 3
p.m. at Cortland.
Aaron Garland can be reached by email at garland.record@live.com
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