Box Score

WILKES-BARRE – Freshman Gabby Ford (Elmont, NY/Sewanhaka) tied her season-high with five goals but Manhattanville College outscored the Lady Colonels 5-2 in the final 8:08 of the first half, opening up a six-goal halftime lead as Wilkes University fell to the Valiants 23-10 in Middle Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex.

Ford also set a single game school record with 10 draw controls on the day, besting Melissa Polchinski's previous mark of nine set against Sage on March 12, 2009.

Manhattanville (2-1, 2-0) didn't waste much time at the start as Melissa Gonclaves took it straight down off the draw and put it in the net just 13 seconds into the game. The Valiants went on to score three more goals to take a 4-0 lead with just 3:23 gone in the first.

Ford answered, getting the Lady Colonels on the board at the 26:02 mark. Lindsey Davenport (Dallas, PA/Dallas) added another Wilkes goal a little more than three minutes later as the Lady Colonels turned on the offensive pressure.

After another Manhattanville goal, Ford got her second at the 18:43 mark to keep the Lady Colonels within two at 5-3.

The Valiants picked up two more goals, one by Emelda Ogweta and the second by Darby Webber, to go on top 7-3. Keri Meerholz (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) found the back of the net for the Lady Colonels with 8:23 remaining, but Manhattanville scored four goals over a 2:42 span to take an 11-3 lead.

The Lady Colonels were able to stop streak, getting goals from Meerholz and Davenport 45 seconds apart to get back to within six before Kirstin Betsill snuck in another Manhattanville goal with 1:41 left as the Valiants took a 12-6 lead into the break.

Manhattanville opened the second half strong, scoring six of the first seven goals to take a commanding 18-7 lead with 18:28 remaining.

Wilkes picked up three more goals the rest of the way, all from Ford.

Webber and Ogweta each scored five goals and had an assist to lead the Valiants, who got seven saves in the net from Carolyn Levine.

Ford's five goals doubled her season total, as she now leads the Lady Colonels with 10. She also picked up a team-high six ground balls. Davenport and Meerholz each scored twice while Allie Grippo (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) added a goal, her first of the season.

The Lady Colonels (1-3, 0-2) hit the road next week, traveling to Lycoming College on Wednesday to face off against the Warriors. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.