Post Classifieds
Fifth-place Bengals face must-win game against fourth-place Brockport
By Aaron Garland
On April 26, 2012
The Buffalo State women's lacrosse team's seven seniors were honored prior to Saturday's
senior game win against Potsdam (4-10, 1-6 SUNYAC), sending them into a crucial
showdown against Brockport today on a two-game winning streak.
Karen Shaddock, Kendyl Clarkson, Mariah DeBolt, Jamie Handley, Brittany Nagowski, Renee
Glass, and Paige Ottaviano were the senior honorees playing in their second-last game at
Coyer Field, and they made it count, scoring a decisive 16-4 win against Potsdam. The win
keeps the Bengals' (10-5, 3-3 SUNYAC) SUNYAC playoff hopes alive heading into a must-win
game at fourth-place Brockport (9-3, 4-2 SUNYAC).
"We're in a must-win (situation)," head coach Meg Stevens said after the win. "We haven't
hit it (a playoff berth), so we need to win games. So, (Saturday) was just as important - I
mean we've been talking about no game is bigger than another, so we need to win out and it
doesn't matter who we're playing."
Being one game back of Brockport in the standings, a win against them would give the
Bengals the tiebreaker and put them in control of their own playoff destiny with just New
Paltz (6-9, 1-5) left on the schedule after today. If they win both games, the Bengals will
clinch the fourth and final seed in the conference playoffs, but a loss against Brockport
would eliminate them from contention.
Sophomore Jenn Shaddock scored just 40 seconds into the game, setting the tone early for
the Bengals. Stevens noted the importance of the big win for her team on senior day.
"It's important for them," Stevens said. "It's a nice win on a home field. It's a nice win on
senior day when they've got fans even though the weather wouldn't co-operate with us. But
it's been a tremendous group of seniors - they've really helped put this program on the
map."
Potsdam struck next with 24:42 left in the first half, tying the score at one. It was all Bengals
from there, as they scored the game's next 13 goals, part of a 9-1 halftime lead. Karen
Shaddock, Clarkson, DeBolt, junior Ashley Caporizzo, and freshman Meghan Farrell all
contributed with goals during the spurt.
The Bengals dominated play with great ball control, caused by a 19-13 advantage in ground
balls, and forcing 26 turnovers while only committing 18.
With the score 14-1 in the second half, Potsdam answered with the next three goals, before
the Bengals closed up the scoring with the final two.
Despite the defensive drop-off during the three-goal Potsdam run, Stevens said her team's
defense is improving.
"I think we had a little bit of a lapse in the second half," she said about the defensive effort
Saturday. "I like it when we play more aggressively, so I put them in a little bit more of an
aggressive defense and they responded well. (We) shouldn't have lapses like that, but it was
relatively short-lived and they seemed to get their feet back underneath them so, it got a
little bit better."
Freshman goaltender Colleen George came up with saves when she needed to, making three
of them, as she earned SUNYAC Lacrosse Goalie of the Week honors, posting a 7.89 goals
against average, and a .516 save percentage in two games last week.
The offensive attack that created 29 shots, compared to the Bears' 11, was led by Clarkson
and Karen Shaddock, who was named SUNYAC Lacrosse Player of the Week for her efforts
last Tuesday against Geneseo, and Potsdam. Shaddock posted eight shots on goal, each of
them resulting in scores. She added an assist and a highlight-reel goal for her seventh of the
game, putting her stick behind her head and shooting the ball over her back shoulder.
"It just kind of happened," said Shaddock about the development of the play. "I didn't even
really think about it - I did it because that was the only shot I really had the angle for."
Clarkson had a goal and a game-high seven assists, four of which went to Karen Shaddock.
Caporizzo added two goals and two assists, and DeBolt contributed three goals and an assist
to the scoring efforts.
Clarkson said it was nice to have a fun team game, but knows improvements need to be
made.
"Probably 50 percent still," said Clarkson in how complete of a game the team played. "We
played well in the first half and we got up, but we gave them a little run in the second half
that wasn't necessary, and we didn't play 100 percent the full 60 minutes of the game. We
still have a lot to work on."
The Bengals' game at Brockport will be played today at 4 p.m. and will conclude their
regular season Saturday at Coyer Field with either everything or nothing on the line against
New Paltz at 1 p.m.
Aaron Garland can be reached by email at garland.record@live.com.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The Record News Articles
Runge's on-court progress parallels off-court success
Buffalo State men's basketball coach Fajri Ansari remembers his decision to recruit Seth Runge out of Springville-Griffith Institute ...
Bashore Baltimore bound after finding success in fashion field
Kelsey Bashore opened her email over spring break and glanced over one particular message several times to confirm what she was ...
Ladies win OT thriller to close season
After being eliminated from the playoffs last week, the Buffalo State lacrosse team knew Saturday's game at Potsdam would be its last ...
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE RECORD NEWS
- We've Moved to www.buffstaterecord.com!
- Obama divulges new higher education initiative during visit to UB
- Ailing Podolefsky steps down as president
- SUNY appoints Cohen interim president
- President Podolefsky announces leave to fight cancer
- Rappers put Pepsi in a bind
- Congrats to grads: take next step with gratitude
RECENT THE RECORD CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Tips For Improving Mental Health
- New Writers and Illustrators Win Decades-Old Science...
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- The Untold Story of GoDaddy Founder’s Traumatic Life a...
- La Semana del Aprendizaje Juvenil destaca las oportunidades
- BookTrib's Bites: Four Captivating Spring Reads
- Moms Kick Back with Mamaritas
- Generac Urges Americans to Prepare for Power Outages Early
- Youth Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Opportunities
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- NOW Available: Comcast Launches NOW Brand Prepaid Internet and Mobile Services Nationwide
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
