HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College women's lacrosse team earned the second North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) win this afternoon after they held on in the 15-14 victory over SUNY Poly.
The Hawks improved to 3-9 overall and matched the program's most wins in a season, which was set back in 2014, in only the second year of varsity status.
Hilbert also notched their second league victory and improved to 2-7 which lifted them up ahead of Wells College who dropped to 10th place.
Senior
Nikki Schneider, who posted five goals, became the first women's lacrosse player to reach 100 goals and points in her career. She currently stands at 103 goals and 111 points earned in just 45 games.
Junior
Brooklynn Gormel also garnered five points, behind four goals and one assist.
Taylor Corts, who earned a team-high six ground balls, shared the team-high three caused turnover label with
Nickee Thibault.
Ashley Repine was credited with eight saves in goal for Hilbert.
Emily Gawlak collected 10 draw controls, which is one below her average, but posted five points as well scoring three goals and assisting on a pair.
SUNY Poly was able to keep the game stats in-line with Hilbert's work-rate, despite playing a man-down for just over 59 minutes of the game.
The Hawks took the lead right from the start and never trailed. The Wildcats knotted the score at 4-4 and 6-6 at 12:34 in the first half. Hilbert closed the first period with a 5-0 run and built an 11-6 lead at the break.
Hilbert maintained their pace with a 6-goal lead at 16:01. But then SUNY Poly went on a 5-0 run and cut the difference to one goal, 14-13 with 2:49 remaining. Gawlak won the next draw control, sprinted to the cage and padded Hilbert's lead back to two. The Wildcats scored one more goal before Hilbert held the ball and waited for the final horn to blow.
Hilbert and Morrisville are the only two women's team in the NEAC who have completed their nine-game league schedule. All eight other teams play tomorrow and the top six teams will move on into the post season play.
Hilbert did not qualify for the NEAC play-offs, but the Hawks are continuing their season in the AMCC Showcase Tournament. The four women's teams in the AMCC league (Medaille, Hilbert, Franciscan and D'Youville) will battle for the AMCC title. Medaille qualified for the NEAC tourney and will not participate in the AMCC Showcase which means there will be only three teams in the Showcase.
#3 Hilbert (3-9) will host #4 D'Youville (0-9) May 4th at 6pm. The Hawks beat D'Youville (20-4) on April 5. The winner of the Thursday night game will travel to Steubenville, Ohio to battle Franciscan (8-7) on Sunday, May 7th. The Barons beat Hilbert (18-10 on March 26) and D'Youville (14-8 on April 1).
