Reinert and Fitzgerald Earn Spot on
CACC Women’s Lacrosse Weekly Honor Roll
New Haven, Conn. - (3/7/2017) –Chestnut Hill College sophomore midfielder Julia Reinert (Bridgeport, Pa.) and freshman forward Spencer Fitzgerald (Huntingtown, Md.) both earned a spot on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Week 2 Honor Roll for their performances in an 0-2 week for the Griffins. It is the second consecutive week that the duo has been honored by the league, with Reinert earning both Player and Defensive Player of the Week honors, and Fitzgerald being named the Rookie of the Week in week one.
In the week’s first contest, Chestnut Hill College (0-3) saw the Griffins fall to East Stroudsburg University (1-0), 20-11, on February 28. East Stroudsburg University netted the game's first goal at 28:32 of the first half, but found themselves trailing Chestnut Hill College 3-2 after a connection between senior attack Samantha Herron (Cinnaminson, N.J.) and Fitzgerald at 18:57. The Warriors promptly responded at 17:31 (3-3) and took the lead, 4-3, on an unassisted score at 15:37 (4-3). Still competitive, the Scarlet and Gold knotted the game, 4-4, for the last time at 13:42 on a free position goal from Reinert. Following that tally, the complexion of the contest shifted as East Stroudsburg University scored four consecutive goals to capture an 8-4 halftime advantage.
After an initial second-half tally from Reinert, 8-5, at 29:44, the Warriors gradually widened the gap, answering each Chestnut Hill College score with at least two of their own. The pattern continued until the waning minutes of the affair, when a fleeting Sanders goal cut the deficit to eight goals, 19-11 @ 1:37, and an East Stroudsburg University response (0:02) left the final at 20-11. Senior midfielder Lea Sanders (North Merrick, N.Y.) added two ground balls and a draw to her four goals, while Reinert additionally recorded an assist, a ground ball, and a caused turnover in addition to her four scores. Fitzgerald finished the fray with three goals, two ground balls, and a draw. Senior goalkeeper Katie Joe Lang (Manassas, Va.) did all she could to keep the Griffins in the game, making a career-high 20 saves and recovering one ground ball.
In the second game of a back-to-back, the Scarlet and Gold fell to Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (1-0), 21-9, on March 1. SNHU began the game on a 6-0 run over the opening 12:32, led by freshman midfielder Merry Harrington (Peabody, Mass.), who collected two goals and two assists during the run.
Chestnut Hill College got on the board just under two minutes later (15:30) with senior midfielder Jacklyn O'Leary (East Meadow, N.Y.) finding classmate Rachel Perry (Gilbertsville, Pa.) to trim the lead down to five, 6-1. The Scarlet and Gold were able to keep the deficit at five, 8-3, following a free position goal from junior midfielder Hunter Leckonby (Charleston, S.C) at the 9:03 mark, but the Penmen responded, closing the half on a 4-1 run to enter the halftime break up nine goals, 13-4.
The Penmen opened the frame with a pair of goals, but the Griffins were quick to respond with two of their own to keep the deficit at nine, 15-6, with 20:04 left in the contest. SNHU scored two more goals before Fitzgerald scored on a free position shot (13:02) to make the score 17-7 in favor of the visitors. The Penmen answered just under two minutes later (11:04), with sophomore Kristen Wilder (Framingham, Mass.) scoring off a feed from senior Ellen Decker (Foxborough, Mass.). The Griffins' valiant effort wouldn't be enough, however, as the visitors were able to score a trio of goals sandwiched between a pair of Chestnut Hill College tallies to give the game its 21-9 final.
For the week Reinert finished with six goals and one assist (seven points) on 10 shots. Fitzgerald added four goals and three ground balls, directing 8-of-9 shots on goal for the week.
The Chestnut Hill College women’s lacrosse team returns to action on today (Tuesday, March 7), when they travel to Lock Haven University for a 4:00 p.m. contest.
