Senior midfielder Kristin Abruzzese scored two goals and added two assists as second-seeded Boston University defeated top-seeded University of New Hampshire, 11-5, at Memorial Field to win the America East Women's Lacrosse Championship. The Terriers, playing in the championship game for the fourth-consecutive year, won their second America East title in three years.
Abruzzese gave the Terriers, 8-11, some breathing room with her second goal of the game at 51:45 after the Wildcats, 12-6, had scored two goals in a span of 2:28 to pull within 6-5.
Alyssa Trudel got the Terriers on the board just 1:55 into the game when she scored unassisted. New Hampshire evened it at 8:39 when America East Player of the Year Jesse Groszkowski scored the first of her two goals. Boston University took a 2-1 advantage when Katie Nordhoff scored at 19:37. Kelly Blaney answered for the Wildcats at 22:01, but Championship Most Outstanding Player Gabby Juocys struck for the Terriers just 35 seconds later.
Nordhoff scored her second of the game and fifth of the championship to give Boston University it's first two-goal cushion at 25:35. America East Rookie of the Year Jess Burnap brought the Wildcats within 4-3 at 26:16. Molly Bryne (27:16) and Abruzzese (28:32) added goals late in the half as the Terriers carried a 6-3 lead into the break.
Burnap and Groszkowski scored at 33:15 and 35:43 to open a strong second-half for the Wildcats and cut the Terrier lead to 6-5. The teams played over 15 minutes of scoreless action before Abruzzese's goal.
Ericka Hergenroeder added two goals and Sasha Lang and Juocys each scored in the final five minutes for the final margin of victory.
Juocys, a senior defender, was joined on the all-championship team by teammates Abruzzese, Hergenroeder and senior Brooke Barrett, who made six saves; Groszkowski, Burnap and Nicole Moore of New Hampshire; Andrea Esposito and Theresa Masse of Albany; and Courtney LaMere and Sarah Booker of Vermont.
Danielle Martin made 11 saves for the Wildcats.
Game summary
No. 2 Boston University at No. 1 New Hampshire - May 2, 2002 - Memorial Field
No. 3 Boston U. (8-11) 6-5--11
No. 1 New Hampshire (12-6) 3-2--5
Goals:
BU (11): Kristin Abruzzese (2), Gabby Juocys (2), Ericka Hergenroeder (2), Katie Nordhoff (2),
Sasha Lang, Alyssa Trudel, Molly Byrne
UNH (5) - Jessie Groszkowski (2), Jess Burnap (2), Kelly Blaney
Assists:
BU (2) - Kristin Abruzzese (2)
UNH (2) - Molly Cherington (2)
Saves:
BU- Brooke Barrett (6)
UNH - Danielle Martin (11)
BU UNH
Shots 40 20
Ground balls 19 32
Caused turnovers 14 4
Draw controls 13 5
Team Player (assist) Time Score
BU Trudel (-) 1:55 1-0
UNH Groszkowski (-) 8:39 1-1
BU Nordhoff (-) 19:37 2-1
UNH Blaney (-) 22:01 2-2
BU Juocys (-) 22:36 3-2
BU Nordhoff (Abruzzese) 25:35 4-2
UNH Burnap (-) 26:16 4-3
BU Byrne (-) 27:16 5-3
BU Abruzzese (-) 28:32 6-3
UNH Burnap (Cherington) 33:15 6-4
UNH Groszkowski (Cherington) 35:43 6-5
BU Abruzzese (-) 51:45 7-5
BU Lang (-) 55:08 8-5
BU Hergenroeder (-) 57:22 9-5
BU Hergenroeder (Abruzzese) 58:13 10-5
BU Juocys (-) 59:50 11-5
All-Championship Team
Gabby Juocys, Boston University (MOP)
Kristin Abruzzese, Boston University
Ericka Hergenroeder, Boston University
Brooke Barrett, Boston University
Jesse Groszkowski, New Hampshire
Jess Burnap, New Hampshire
Nicole Moore, New Hampshire
Andrea Esposito, Albany
Theresa Masse, Albany
Courtney LaMere, Vermont
Sarah Booker, Vermont