Lafayette Hill, PA – (3/13/2011) – Chestnut Hill College scored early and often to defeat the University of Bridgeport 19-3 for their first win of the season. The Griffins owned an 11-1 halftime lead before outscoring the Purple Knights 8-2 in the second half. Sophomore attack Nicole Covella (Vineland, NJ) was the Griffins high scorer with five goals, but sophomore attack Christina Squillante (Kings Park, NY) and senior midfielder Jillian Sanger (Bowmansville, PA) led the Griffins with six points apiece.
Covella netted the game's first goal in the opening minute (29:01), setting the tone for Chestnut Hill College (1-1), 1-0. The second Griffin goal came just 1:33 later (27:28); making the University of Bridgeport's (0-2) only score of the period to serve as little more than a speed bump with the Griffins netting nine unanswered goals on the way to halftime. Following the intermission and another Griffin tally, sophomore midfielder Jennavie Orrell (Gloucester, MA) briefly tightened the contest with two Purple Knight goals, 12-3 (27:41). But the Griffins then closed the affair with seven straight goals for the victory.
Orell led the Purple Knights with two goals, six ground balls, two draws, and three caused turnovers. Freshman midfielder Colleen Pruesse (Danbury, CT) added the other score while freshman goalkeeper Victoria Harrison (Massapequa, NY) stopped 12 shots in the loss (0-2).
Covella need only seven shots for her five goals, she also retrieved four draws and caused two turnovers. Squillante paired two assists with her four goals while Sanger contributed four assists and two goals. Five other Griffins got in on the scoring while sophomore midfielder Lindsay Alexander (Huntingdon Valley, PA) and freshman goalkeeper freshman Jessica Pennell (Hopkinton, NH) headlined the defensive effort. Alexander forced six turnovers and recovered eight ground balls. Pennell made eight saves and collected three ground balls in her first collegiate win (1-1).
The women's lacrosse team begins their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) schedule on Tuesday, March 15, with a trip to Georgian Court University.
