Herron and Leckonby Honored With League’s Weekly Defensive and Rookie Awards New Haven Conn. - (4/21/2015) – Sophomore attack
Samantha Herron (Cinnaminson, N.J.) and freshman attack
Hunter Leckonby (Charleston, S.C.) respectively claimed the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Defensive and Rookie of the Week awards for their efforts in the Griffins 2-1 week of league competition against Dominican College, Philadelphia University, and Post University.
Eyeing its first CACC playoff berth in six years, the Chestnut Hill College (7-9, 4-4) women’s lacrosse continued to utilize its home-field advantage to full effect, edging visiting Dominican College (4-9, 4-3) by a 9-8 count to remain perfect at Victory Field #1 (5-0) and snatch a watershed win. The thrilling triumph, played under a steady drizzle for most of a see-saw second half, guaranteed the Griffins a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2009. Sophomore midfielder
Lea Sanders (North Merrick, N.Y.) netted a first-half hat-trick and counterpart
Jacklyn O'Leary (East Meadow, N.Y.) registered two critical late goals to help the home side start a three-game home stand on a high note. Leckonby netted two goals, two ground balls, a draw, and a caused turnover while Herron added a ground ball, two draws, and caused two turnovers to her first-half assist.
Following the initial Lady Ram tally, Chestnut Hill College and Philadelphia University exchanged two goal runs to a 7-6 halftime spread in Thursday evening's CACC contest at Victory Field #1. Building off the last of the first-half runs, the visitors separated with nine unanswered second-half goals that propelled them to a 17-10 victory. O’Leary provided three of her team-high four points in the competitive first half and her last as time expired.
The first ten minutes were fast and furious as goals came easily for both sides. Philadelphia University (8-7, 5-2) drew first blood at 29:31 and the scores kept coming with junior midfielder
Emorie Keimig (Freeland, Md.) and O'Leary answering the Lady Rams initial tally at 28:52 and 26:02, respectively, 2-1. Less than two minutes later the Rams had a two-goal run of their own, but a connection between Herron and Leckonby evened the score for the next ten minutes, 3-3 at 21:58. An unassisted strike from Herron would give Chestnut Hill College a brief 4-3 lead at 12:24, but the Lady Rams bookended a pair of Griffin goals with two more two-goal streaks that left the halftime edge in the visitor's favor, 7-6.
The spread remained at a single score with 27:19 left in the second half, but that is when the Lady Rams distinguished themselves from the Griffins with a nine-goal run that left the home team scrabbling for a rally with two late second-half scores. Leckonby and Herron each scored a goal with the Griffin rookie additionally providing a ground ball and four draws, while Herron hustled to a ground ball, seven draws, and caused two turnovers.
Registering their highest goal total since their wins over Post University in the 2011 season, Chestnut Hill College notched their only 20-goal performance of the season on Senior Day, and against the same Eagles in a 21-11 CACC final. Four Griffins recorded four points with Leckonby and Sanders each recording all of their points on goals; Keimig and Herron (2 goals, 2 assists, 1gb, 1ct, and 4dc) were the other two as they also controlled the circle, combining for nine draw controls and a pair of ground balls.
The women's lacrosse team returns to the CACC postseason for the first time since 2011 on Tuesday, April 21, when they visit #4 Wilmington University for 2:00 p.m. CACC Opening Round contest.
