SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Senior Cheyenne Carden (Branford, Conn.) potted a pair of goals, but it was not enough as American International College dropped a, 9-6, decision to the number 10 nationally ranked University of New Haven in Northeast-10 women's lacrosse action this evening from Abdow Field.
The loss drops AIC to 3-3 in the conference and 6-4 overall while UNH remaining unbeaten in the NE-10 at 5-0 and are 8-2 overall with the victory.
The Chargers wasted little time opening the scoring as junior Nicole Belanger (Kinnelon, N.J.) found the back of the net just 40 seconds in, but the Jackets responded with the equalizer at the 22:48 mark as junior Stefanie Dufresne (Belchertown, Mass.) found classmate Jessica Lawler (Mexico, N.Y.) for the 1-1 tie.
New Haven then took over in the first half scoring five straight to take the 6-1 lead into the intermission. Belanger and senior Devon Previte (Toms River, N.J.) each collected a pair during that span.
Coming out of the half AIC picked up their intensity and were certainly the stronger team throughout the final 30 minutes. Carden picked up her first of the game on a free-position shot at the 28:39 mark, but UNH came right back with a score at 26:31 for the 7-2 edge.
The Jackets then scored a pair of quick goals by senior Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) and Carden prompting a timeout from the Chargers as the deficit was cut to 7-4 with 10 minutes gone in the half.
The stoppage was well timed as New Haven potted a pair of quick ones to regain the five-goal margin and even with a man-down score from Dufresne midway through the frame and another tally by senior Kelly Reilly (Corning, N.Y.) that Jackets couldn't get any closer as the Chargers played solid defense and senior Alyssa Gianotti (Monkton, Md.) collected some crucial saves and groundballs down the stretch.
Gianotti stopped six shots to improve to 4-1 while junior Alexis Torosian (Hopkinton, Mass.) made eight saves falling to 6-4 on the year. Torosian also paced AIC in ground balls with three.
The visitors held the 28-21 edge in shots including the 17-12 mark on target while also holding the 19-14 mark in ground balls.
AIC returns to action on Saturday as they host No. 16 Stonehill at 6 p.m.
