Firebirds Score Twice in Loss at Queens

FLUSHING, NY – Tiara Goode scored the first goal in University of the District of Columbia women's lacrosse program history, and Jazmin Lopez assisted Goode's goal and scored her own, but the Firebirds were defeated by East Coast Conference foe Queens, 18-2 on Thursday afternoon.

UDC (0-2, 0-2 ECC) took six shots as a team, putting four on goal, with Lopez (Biology – Pembroke Pines, FL/Charles W. Flanagan HS), a freshman defender, leading the charge offensively with two shots, one goal and one assist.  Goode (Criminal Justice – Brentwood, NY/Brentwood HS), a sophomore midfielder, also took two shots and scored the first of the Firebirds' two goals at the 23:49 mark of the first half.

Freshman goalkeeper Dani Falco (English/Elementary Education – Middletown, NY/Valley Central HS) made six saves and collected a team-high three ground balls in a complete game effort.

Queens (1-5, 1-2 ECC) was led offensively by attack Taylor Martello (five goals, two assists), midfielder Carly Chierico (four goals, two assists) and attack Samantha Wolf (three goals). The Knights took 27 shots as a team, won 15 of 22 draw controls and had a 14-8 edge in ground balls. In earning their first victory of the season, they also committed only half as many turnovers (five) as UDC and were successful on 7-of-8 clear attempts and 2-of-4 free-position shots.

Martello opened the scoring for the day with an unassisted goal on the first shot of the day by either team nearly two minutes into the game. The Knights added two more goals to take an early 3-0 at the 26-minute mark.

UDC, which was held scoreless vs. No. 9 Dowling in the program's first ever game played one week ago today, scored the first goal in program history when Goode finished a pass from Lopez at the 23:49 mark.

But after Goode's goal, the Firebirds could only manage one more shot in the first half, as Queens scored eight unanswered goals to take a commanding 11-1 lead at intermission.

When play resumed, the Knights extended their lead to 15-1  with four goals in the first 10 minutes of second half action. Lopez's unassisted goal came at the 15-minute mark to make the score 15-2, but Queens added three more goals in the final 12 minutes of regulation to add to its lead and win by a final score of 18-2.

The Firebirds will stay in New York as they visit another ECC foe, Mercy tomorrow at 4 p.m.