Feb. 18, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - Dana Lindsay and Amanda Schwab scored two goals during a first-half scoring flurry to help Stanford build a lead it would not relinquish in a 15-10 nonconference women's lacrosse victory over Albany on Wednesday at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
Stanford (3-0) trailed before closing the half with six unanswered goals to take a 7-2 lead. Lindsay broke the tie and was one of three Stanford players to score three goals each. Lauren Schmidt and Sarah Flynn were the others, with Schmidt contributing two assists. The teams traded goals in the second half, but Albany (1-1) never drew closer than four.
Stanford outshot Albany, 38-19 for the game and 22-8 in the first half, but was unable to put the Great Danes away.
"Their goalie (Katie Neer) did a great job of seeing our shots off the stick," Stanford coach Amy Bokker said. "I commend our players for going hard to the net after every shot attempt."
Stanford is one victory from matching its best-ever start, but that would have to come against No. 3 Syracuse, the highest-ranked team the Cardinal will play this regular season.
Syracuse (1-0) practiced next to the Cagan Stadium field before the game and watched the first half in preparation for their matchup with the Cardinal on Friday at 3 p.m. on the same field.
Bokker thought playing Albany on Wednesday -- the game had been postponed a day because of wet grounds after a series of storms -- could only help the Cardinal.
"We need to allow ourselves to find our rhythm," Bokker said. "It's almost better to back up the games a little closer together."
Syracuse brings a high-powered offense that Stanford will be challenged to match. The Cardinal is averaging 17 goals per game and has 10 players with two goals or more. Lindsay (9 goals, 3 assists) and Schmidt (6 goals, 6 assists) lead the team with 12 points apiece.