3/16/2006 - (Wellington, Florida) - If the first week of the second season of Women’s Lacrosse at Mount Saint Vincent proved anything, it made it clear that the 2006 season is going to be a thriller for the Dolphins. Coming off of a remarkable inaugural season in which they finished 12-4, the Mount headed south this week to Wellington, Florida to play their first two games of the year. The games were near carbon copies of each other with the Mount dropping a 7-6 heartbreaker to SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday night before winning a 9-8 thriller over Puget Sound on Thursday. The Dolphins now return home with a 1-1 record heading into Tuesday’s game at FDU-Florham.

Thursday’s game was nothing short of a roller coaster ride with neither team holding a lead of more than two goals. Puget Sound opened the scoring early before a Chanel Comis (Durham, NC/Cardinal Gibbons) goal evened things at one. After the teams traded goals, Puget Sound stormed ahead for a 4-2 lead. However, Mount Saint Vincent scored three straight goals to end the first half, and led 5-4 after 30 minutes.

The second half saw both teams tighten up their defenses as the goals were few and far between. Mount Saint Vincent led 8-6 with five minutes remaining, but Puget Sound tied the score with just under two minutes remaining in the game. That’s when sophomore Mare Garcia (Medford, MA/Medford HS) stepped in and took the hero’s title, scoring a spectacular goal with 1:21 remaining to give the Dolphins the dramatic 9-8 win.

Garcia finished the game with two goals and an assist, and freshman Ciara O’Donnell (Bethpage, NY/Kellenberg) scored her first career hat trick in a winning effort. But the story of the game was the Mount Saint Vincent defense as the Dolphins held their opponents to single digits for the second straight game. Sophomore Cynthia Osorio (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside HS) had a spectacular game with 11 ground balls and a tremendous defensive effort, while fellow sophomores Michelle Yarger (Chantilly, VA/Chantilly HS) and Alexis Alessi (Rockville Centre, NY/Oceanside HS) were equally impressive. The game also featured the first career start for freshman goalie Alexis Balingcongan (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove HS), and the rookie was nothing short of sensational, making 16 saves, including an outstanding one-on-one stop with less than a minute remaining in the game to preserve the win.

The win helps the Mount overcome a difficult 7-6 loss to SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday night to start the 2006 season. Despite a 31-20 advantage in shots, a heavy edge in ground balls and time of possession, and more than 40 minutes of play with the Mount in the lead, the Dolphins allowed three goals during the final seven minutes of play, including the game-winner with 32 seconds remaining for a shocking loss. Garcia scored twice, and sophomore Amanda Nadhir (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Marian) chipped in two goals and two assists. The Mount Saint Vincent defense, led by junior goalie Tara Staples (Clifton Park, NY/Shenandahowa HS), who made 12 saves, was stellar, allowing only three goals during the first half and four during the second half.

The Mount’s Tuesday game at FDU-Florham will begin at 3:30 p.m.