Box Score Bridgeport, Conn. - (4/9/2015) – The Chestnut Hill College women's lacrosse team engaged in a lively tug-of-war at the University of Bridgeport this afternoon, a swinging pendulum that featured five separate runs of three goals or more. Unfortunately the Griffins' final spurt came too early, as the host Purple Knights got the last laugh by closing the contest with three unanswered tallies on the way to a 13-10 non-conference triumph on a cold and cloudy day. Sophomore midfielder Lea Sanders (North Merrick, N.Y.) recorded her first hat-trick of the season in a losing cause.
 
It took just 23 seconds for the fireworks to begin, with sophomore midfielder Jacklyn O'Leary (East Meadow, N.Y.) powering Chestnut Hill College (5-7) to a 1-0 lead with an unassisted marker (29:37). Bridgeport (9-2) equalized just 26 seconds later, 1-1 (29:11) and seized a 2-1 lead at the 28:06 mark of the first half before the Griffins embarked on the game's first big run. They netted four unanswered goals by four different players – freshman midfielder Erica McLaughlin (Magnolia, N.J.), freshman midfielder Hunter Leckonby (Charleston, S.C.), senior attack Mary Markowski (Parkton, Md.), and Sanders – to go in front, 5-2, on Sanders' first point at 21:11, but the Purple Knights answered the challenge with a three-goal spurt of their own, 5-5 (15:42). McLaughlin's unassisted strike put Chestnut Hill College back in front, 6-5 (14:43), but two goals by senior midfielder Gabrielle Valela (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) capped another 3-0 burst and facilitated a 9-7 halftime lead for Bridgeport.
 
The home side took its largest lead at 10-7 with 22:26 to play, but Sanders readied the Griffins' retort. She connected for back-to-back goals before sophomore attack Samantha Herron (Cinnaminson, N.J.) forged the fifth and final stalemate with an unassisted marker, 10-10 (12:34). That would be the final word for Chestnut Hill College; Bridgeport gained the upper hand for good with 6:25 to play (11-10) and two more tallies by sophomore midfielder Rebecca Rieg (Long Valley, N.J.) put the contest out of reach.
 
Sophomore defender Lauren Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa.) posted five points on four goals and an assist for the Purple Knights, also offering four caused turnovers and three draws, while Valela added a hat-trick of her own. Junior goalkeeper Megan Carney (Norwalk, Conn.) logged nine saves – seven after intermission – to secure her ninth win (9-2).
 
McLaughlin finished with two goals for Chestnut Hill College, her third straight multi-goal game, and Leckonby supported Sanders (three goals on four shots) with a goal and a helper. Junior midfielder Emorie Keimig (Freeland, Md.) deposited her ninth goal of the season; meanwhile, freshman midfielder Julia Galantich (Clinton Corners, N.Y.) offered an assist and six draws. Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Joe Lang (Manassas, Va.) made eight saves in defeat (5-7).
 
Chestnut Hill College will look to hand Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) front-runner Holy Family University its first league loss when the Griffins travel across town for a 12:00 p.m. draw on Saturday, April 11.