The Mount Ida College women's lacrosse team dropped their second straight loss to start the 2011 season to hosting non-conference foe Husson University falling 9-8 in a heartbreaking loss Thursday afternoon in Portland, Maine.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on goals by Caitlyn Stauffer (Brookfield, CT), Rebecca Hatin (Jeffersonville, VT) and Kim Gambon (Walpole, MA), and went into half-time with a two goal edge, leading Mt. Ida 5-3 after Megan Clement (Brunswick, ME) netted two break away goals. The Mustangs tied the game with two quick goals to start the second by Alexandra Sarno (East Patchogue, NY). Husson's Alex Huffman (North Hampton, NH) and Mt. Ida's Danielle Chuba (Wrightstown, NJ) traded goals, and with 10 minutes left the score was tied 6-6.
Husson scored three goals in a row down the stretch, Huffman and Stauffer each picked up their second, and Stephanie Eaton (Pittston, ME) scored as well, and the Eagles led 9-6 with 5:15 left to play. The Mustangs stormed back, Chuba scored her second with 4:14 remaining, and when Jen Thompon (Easton, MD) scored her second goal with 1:12 to play they had a shot at a comeback. The Mustangs controlled the draw and were on the breakaway as time was running out but could not muster up a game tying shot before time expired and the Eagles came away with the one-goal victory.
Stauffer and Clement each had 3 points on 2 goals and an assist, while Eaton and Gambon had 3 points on a goal and two assists apiece. Huffman led the way with 10 ground balls to go with her 2 goals to help the Eagles take the edge in that column, 54-48. The story of the match however was first year goalkeeper Kaleigh Morneau (Twin Mountain, NH) who stood on her head to pick up 16 saves and the victory as the Mustangs outshot Husson 29-25. Chuba finished the game with 3 goals and the edge on the draws 10-9, and first year goalie Katherine Chousa (Norwood, MA) saved 13 in a losing effort for Mount Ida.
The Mustangs will host visiting non-conference Elms College this coming Saturday with game time slated for 1:00 p.m.