The Details
Final Score: Riverhawks 20, Howard Community College Dragons 17
Updated Records: AACC 7-3 overall, 5-1 conference. Dragons 4-3 overall, 3-3 conference
Location: Dragons Athletic Complex – Columbia, MD
Box Score: Found here
Media Gallery: Photos Added Soon! (Courtesy of Frank Mitchell Photography, LLC)
Game Notes
The Riverhawk women's lacrosse team picked up another Regional (Region XX) and Conference (MD JUCO) win this past Thursday evening (4/12), defeating the No. 5 ranked team in the nation, Howard Community College Dragons, 20-17. Listed at the No. 3 spot, the Riverhawks are behind (1) Monroe Community College and (2) Harford Community College.
The game kicked off with a draw control won by the Riverhawks, picked up by Caitlyn Shriver (Cat) (Pasadena, MD/Northeast) to allow Madeline Szanyi (Mayo, MD/South River) to find the net and give AACC the early, 1-0, lead just 43 seconds in.
The Dragons would respond a few minutes later to tie the game and put themselves on the board, but the Riverhawks would begin to build their momentum and net 5 unanswered goals against the Dragons.
Shriver, Sofia Michael (Crofton, MD/Arundel), and Emily Kane (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Spalding) would all contribute a goal to the now, 6-1, Riverhawk advantage – with assists credited to Szanyi and Mariah Scott (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park), while Alyssa Baronella-O'Toole (Severn, MD/Old Mill) or more commonly known as "AB" would score 2 on the 5-goal rally for AACC.
Howard would string a couple goals together in their attempt to diminish the 5-goal deficit but were forcefully answered with another 5-goal response from the Riverhawks. AB would contribute 3 goals this time, as Michael would finish off an assist from Scott, and Shriver would finish off an assist from Angelina Horan (Lina) (Lothian, MD/Calverton). With each team scoring once more before the half, (Michael assisted by MacKenzie Schwartz for AACC) the Riverhawks would lead 12-4 over the Dragons.
Second half play would show a drastic change for the Dragons, seemingly catching the Riverhawks off-guard, as they were able to net 3 goals in the opening minutes. Shriver would be first to break the Dragon scoring, as Schwartz would record another assist, and AB would continue to be relentless on offense – scoring in response against 2 of Howard's goals.
The Dragons would make valiant efforts in the second half, finishing with 13 goals for the second half, but it would not be enough to compete with late Riverhawk goals by Michael, Lina Horan, Szanyi, and AB as AACC would close out the win at 20-17.
AB O'Toole is currently ranked No. 1 in the Nation for overall points, and No. 2 in the Nation for goals. Also high up in the rankings is Szanyi ranked No. 2 in the nation for assists and 4th for overall points, and Lina Horan ranked 4th for assists.
Up Next
The Riverhawks still have some tough competition left on their schedule with Regional and National tournaments just around the corner. Their next match-up is scheduled for Tuesday April 17th – against the Fighting Owls of Harford Community College. The Riverhawks previously faced the Fighting Owls, losing, 19-18, in a heart-breaking last second goal, scored by Harford. The rematch will be hosted by the Riverhawks at Siegert Stadium of the Anne Arundel Community College Campus in Arnold, MD starting at 5:00 pm.
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