April 18, 2003

PITTSBURGH, Pa. --The University of Massachusetts women's lacrosse team defeated Duquesne, 11-5, on Friday night at Rooney Field. The win lifts the Minutewomen to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in Atlantic 10 action. With the loss, Duquesne falls to 9-6 overall and 3-4 in the A-10.

Hope Zelinger (Ellicott City, Md.) led Massachusetts offensively, tallying three goals and an assist. On Duquesne's Senior Night, the Minutewomen came out quickly when Zelinger scored an unassisted goal at the 28:58 mark. The Dukes came back to tie the game up when Christi Madden scored at 26:19. Madden's goal sparked the Duquesne offense as the Dukes tallied two more goals to take a 3-1 advantage with 21:00 left in the first half.

Massachusetts ended the Dukes' scoring run with a goal at the 19:45 mark to pull within 3-2. Duquesne had an answer for the Minutewoman goal, tallying a pair of goals to go up 5-2 at 18:25. Massachusetts ended Duquesne's offensive run, tallying three straight goals to tie the game at 5-5. Senior Jada Emery (Princeton, N.J.) added a fourth goal to the scoring drive, giving the Minutewomen their first lead since the opening minute of play at 6-5. Massachusetts was able to take the one goal lead into the intermission.

The Minutewomen came out firing in the second half, tallying four goals for a 10-5 lead in the final minutes of the game. Massachusetts clinched the victory with its final goal of the night at the 2:38 mark to claim an 11-6 victory.

Massachusetts will travel to St. Bonaventure on Sunday for a 12:00 p.m. game against the Bonnies.