Yale tops Bryant, 12-8, despite Vendel hat trick

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University women's lacrosse senior Lisa Vendel (Sandy Hook, Conn.) scored a trio of goals and sophomore Morgan LaBarbera (New Fairfield, Conn.) tied the game at 8-8 midway through the second half, but Yale tallied the final four goals of the contest for a 12-8 victory Wednesday in New Haven, Conn.

Bryant (3-2) led through much of the opening frame and led again early in the second, but two four-goal spurts for the Elis (4-0) would ultimately do the Bulldogs in in the contest. Senior midfielder Kimberley Sniffen (Redding, Conn.) added a pair of markers, with one apiece coming from classmate Haley Bloom (Hauppauge, N.Y.), sophomore Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and LaBarbera in the outing. Vendel paced the Black and Gold in ground balls (4) as well, adding two draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers in a strong all-around performance.

Yale saw hat tricks from a trio of players, with Kerri Fleishhacker netting back-to-back tallies in the game's final seconds to secure the 12-8 victory. Nicole Daniggelis and Tess McEvoy also recorded hat tricks for the hosts, with the former adding an assist for a game-best four points.

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead on consecutive Vendel scores to open game action and held a 4-2 lead with 16:17 left in the first. But Daniggelis scored back-to-back unassisted goals less than a minute apart to tie the game and spark what would end up as a four-goal Yale run for a 6-4 advantage, running the clock down to 1:24.

Sniffen would net her second of the day with 31 seconds left in the stanza to send the Bulldogs into the intermission trailing, 6-5, but Bloom and Vendel would start the second with goals to renew a 7-6 edge.

Daniggelis and McEvoy took back that advantage with 21 minutes left in the contest, and while LaBarbera tacked on the Bulldogs' final score with 14:20 on the clock to knot the game at 8-8, Yale would take over to score the final four goals in the game's closing nine minutes en route to the 12-8 final.

Yale outshot Bryant, 26-19, on the day and won the ground ball game, 17-13. Wednesday's home side outdrew the Bulldogs, 13-8, including a 7-2 mark in the second half. Senior goalie Brianna Watt (Babylon, N.Y.) made four stops for the Black and Gold with her Yale counterpart Erin McMullan making six saves in the win.

The Bulldogs return to action Monday, March 10 when they take on Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., at 3:30 p.m.