March 4, 2008

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Six different players scored hat tricks, and the Navy defense held St. Francis (Pa.) without a shot in routing the Red Flash, 24-0. The Mids move to 3-0 with the victory and have outscored their three opponents, 66-15, in their first three games as an NCAA Division I member. St. Francis (Pa.) fell to 0-2.

"I'm proud of the team and the way we played today," said Navy head coach Cindy Timchal. "We kept our level of intensity and focus for most of the game today and played a lot of players. Every game we play is preparation for Patriot League and teaches us a little more about our team. We're just looking to keep getting better every game, and we took another step in the right direction today."

The Mids scored early and often, netting their first goal just 22 seconds into the contest on a Kaylene Klingenstein tally. The Mids would push their lead to 3-0 three minutes into the game, then scored three goals in an 18-second span to blow the game open.

Navy would manage goals 11 seconds apart for an 8-0 lead with 23:37 to play, before scoring again just eight seconds apart for a 10-0 advantage with 22:15 to play.

The Mids led at halftime, 17-0, while outshooting the Red Flash, 26-0, in the opening 30 minutes.

Navy scored seven more times in the final half for a 24-0 victory, including a pair of tallies by Brittany Amerau and Sarah Bushong.

Meanwhile, the Navy defense dominated the contest, holding St. Francis without a shot, and holding the Red Flash to convert just 3-of-21 clears. Navy also won 18 draw controls and forced 33 Red Flash turnovers.

Navy, meanwhile, accumulated 38 shots, picked up 29 ground balls to St. Francis' 15 and had just 20 turnovers. Navy won 18 draw controls, led by Rawlick's six.

Amanda Towey led Navy with eight points (1 g, 7 a), while Erin Rawlick added six points (4 g, 2 a). Freshman Katrina Nietsch tallied five points (3 g, 2 a), and Amerau, Mary Ruttum, Bushong and Klingenstein each scored three goals each.

Several of Navy's marks during the game rank high in the NCAA single-game recordbook.

-- Navy's 17 assists were the third most in a single-game in NCAA history.

-- Navy's 41 points (24 g, 17 a) were the third most in a single-game in NCAA history.

-- The 24-goal differential is tied for the eighth-largest margin in a single-game in NCAA history.

-- Towey's seven assists are tied for the eighth most in a single-game in NCAA history.

-- Kaylene Klingenstein's goal just 22 seconds into the game tied for the ninth-fastest goal to start a game in NCAA history.

-- Lastly, Navy scored the third-fastest (seven seconds apart; 25:55 - Mary Ruttum, and 25:48 - Katrina Nietsch) and the eighth-fastest (eight seconds apart; 22:23 - Erin Rawlick, and 22:15 - Nietsch) consecutive goals in NCAA history.

"It was a good opportunity for everyone to get in and get some game action," said Towey, who leads the Mids with 18 points, including 15 assists. "The assists come because my teammates are getting open and making plays. I guess it comes from me playing point guard in basketball and looking to get others involved. I'm just looking to get everyone involved."

The Mids have now scored at least 21 goals in all three games and have beat their three foes by an average of 17 goals per game (22.0 to 5.0).

"We have really eased into our schedule, and gives us a chance to run our offense, and find out where we stand," added Towey. "It's good to get everyone in the same mindset to run the plays and know them."

Navy will play a pair of games this weekend, by hosting fellow Division I newcomer, Cincinnati at noon on Saturday, then will host Saint Mary's (Calif.) at noon on Sunday. Admission is free to all home Navy women's lacrosse games.

# GO NAVY #