April 28, 2006

Final Stats

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - In a battle for sole possession of second place in the Atlantic 10, the St. Bonaventure lacrosse team never got on track as it fell to Temple 19-9 Friday afternoon at Geasey Field.

Despite the loss, the Bonnies (13-2, 4-2) can claim the third seed for next week's Atlantic 10 Championships with a win at Saint Joseph's on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Richmond (14-3, 6-1) clinched a share of the A-10 crown and the number one seed with a 20-2 win over Saint Joseph's. The Owls (9-6, 5-1) will attempt to join the Spiders atop the conference with a win over Duquesne on Sunday, but lose the seeding tie-breaker with Richmond due to a 13-2 loss in Virginia earlier in the year. Duquesne and UMass (6-10, 3-3) are tied for the final playoff berth, while George Washington (6-10, 2-4) is one game back.

After a goal from senior Courtney Gibbons tied the score at one, Temple took control of the game with an 8-1 run that lasted just over 13 minutes.

With Temple leading 9-2, the Bonnies finally mounted an offensive attack with four straight goals to pull within three, 9-6, with 4:17 left. Senior Nicole Motondo got things started with a free position goal, while freshman Elizabeth Waples followed with back-to-back scores and Gibbons notched her second of the game.

That would be as close as St. Bonaventure would get as Temple produced its third 4-0 run of the half in the final three minutes to take a 13-6 advantage into the break.

That would be as close as St. Bonaventure would get as Temple produced its third 4-0 run of the half in the final three minutes to take a 13-6 advantage into the break.

The Owls outscored the Bonnies 6-3 in the final period to make it a 19-9 final.

Temple outshot St. Bonaventure 34-22, including 22-8 in the first half and held a 27-14 edge in ground balls.

Gibbons finished with her fourth hat trick of the season and 15th of her career. Playing in front of her family and friends, Waples' two goals were the first points of her collegiate career. Freshman Katelyn Faas totaled four points on two goals and two assists. She now has 62 points on the season, the third highest total in program history. Motondo rounded out the Bonaventure goal scores with a pair of tallies.

St. Bonaventure will wrap-up its regular season schedule on Sunday with another game in the city in the "Brotherly Love" against the Hawks. Draw time is scheduled for noon.