September 20, 2008
Rosato, Nicholoff Lead WC Past Mules, 3-1
Shorewomen Score Three Goals in Second Half

ALLENTOWN, PA -- Sophomore attack Danielle Rosato (Narvon, PA/Pequea Valley) assisted on the game-tying goal and scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal and junior goalkeeper Elena Nicholoff (Tunkhannock, PA/Lackawanna Trail) made nine saves as visiting Washington College rallied past host Muhlenberg College, 3-1, in a Centennial Conference field hockey game this afternoon in Allentown, PA. The Shorewomen improved to 4-1 overall for the first time since 1999 and 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2001 with the victory.

Washington controlled the game early, recording 12 penalty corners in the first 20 minutes of the contest, but it was Muhlenberg (1-5, 0-1) that would score the lone goal of the first half as Julie deLaurentis converted a penalty stroke with 2:33 remaining before halftime. The Mules held a 7-3 advantage in shots in the period.

The Shorewomen knotted the score at 1-1 with 24:42 left in the game when Rosato snuck a pass past charging Muhlenberg goalkeeper Michelle Consiglio to junior attack Kristin Bircsak (East Windsor, NJ/Hightstown), who tapped the ball in for the score. Rosato then put the Shorewomen in front, 2-1, when she scored off an assist from junior midfielder Kelsey Kemp (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) with 17:54 remaining. Kemp sent a cross from the right side to Rosato, who scored from the left of Consiglio.

Nicholoff then held the lead with five saves in a stretch of just under 12 minutes until senior attack Jaimie Barlow (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) put the game away with a goal from the right side with 54 seconds on the clock. Nicholoff's key stops included stuffing a breakaway by Nicki Notarianni with 5:27 remaining and stopping a blast from Jess Kasza off a penalty corner with 3:58 left.

Muhlenberg held a 14-11 advantage in shots in the game, but Washington had a 15-9 edge in penalty corners. Seven of Nicholoff's nine saves came in the second half. Consiglio made five saves for the Mules in the loss.

The Shorewomen return to action Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. game at St. Mary's (MD).

BOX SCORE