Sam Spiess turns the corner Saturday vs. Plattsburgh (photo by Ron Szot).
Fredonia closed out the home portion of the 2019 women's lacrosse season with a 13-12 SUNYAC win Saturday over Plattsburgh.
Samantha Spiess, one of two Fredonia seniors, had a five-point game -- two goals and three assists -- and surpassed the 100-point plateau in the process. Natalie Prims had three goals while Alli Coon, Alyssa Kissel, and Madeline Haney had two goals each for the Blue Devils (4-11 overall, 1-7 SUNYAC).
Melanie Orffeo was credited with six saves while her Plattsburgh counterpart, Alexa Cassidy, had 11 stops. The Cardinals (1-14 overall, 0-8 SUNYAC) were led on offense by Frankie Porcaro and Emily Caoili with four goals each.
The Blue Devils trailed only once in the game, at 1-0, following a free-position goal by Porcaro at 27:27 of the first half. Madeline Haney evened the score at 27:12 and Spiess put Fredonia on top to stay, 2-1, with a free-position goal at 20:14. The Fredonia lead grew to five goals, 8-3, on a goal by senior Jen Kershner, assisted by Spiess, with 1:53 left in the half.
Down 13-9 following a player-up goal by Spiess with 6:41 left, Plattsburgh scored the final three goals -- by Porcaro, Caoili, and Allie Vangas -- the third coming with :40 seconds left. Porcaro controlled the ensuing draw but a turnover and a ground-ball pickup by Sarah English enabled Fredonia to run out the clock.
Spiess had 10 draw controls -- Fredonia had 11 as a team -- and added two ground balls and one caused turnover. Orffeo led Fredonia with six ground balls and Coon had four. Spiess and Kershner were recognized during a pre-game ceremony. Both women have bounced back from injuries during their collegiate careers in order to compete as seniors.
Fredonia concludes its season with two road games next week, Tuesday at Allegheny and next Saturday at Oneonta.
