Women's Lacrosse Makes History

Saturday, February 20

West Point, N.Y.

11 AM

Army West Point

1-1

Central Connecticut State

0-1

CCSU

Army West Point

Women's Lacrosse Makes History

February 20, 2016 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Rookie Nikki Polhamus tallied five goals and six points to lead the Army women's lacrosse team to its first win in program history with an 8-7 victory over Central Connecticut.

Army (1-1) also got a great game from Amy Johnston, who finished with two goals and an assist for three points. Erin Jollota also earned a spot on the scoresheet with her first career goal.

Kayla Rowley had a stellar game in the crease with eight saves, including four in the second half, when the Blue Devils made a late charge to try and even the game up.

Central Connecticut (0-1) saw Madison Hughes lead the way with three goals and two assists for five points. Two of her goals came in the second half when the Blue Devils outscored the Black Knights 5-1. Kylie Sullivan chipped in with two points on a goal and an assist. Jackie Branthover earned the start and went just over 40 minutes until Diana Lenares came in for the final 19:31. Branthover had one save in the loss.

The first half belonged to Army and rookie Nikki Polhamus. The Granger, Ind., native tallied five of the Black Knights' seven goals in the opening 30 minutes. Army had a 7-2 lead at the break with Polhamus having a hand in six of the seven goals.

Amy Johnston got the scoring started with a free-position tally two minutes into the game and then the Blue Devils answered right back with Madison Hughes scoring her first of the season on the next possession to tie it up at 1-1.

The Black Knights built a four-goal lead over the next 13 minutes with Polhamus single-handily give Army a 5-1 lead. She scored all four goals with two coming as free-position shots. Johnston and Nia Crump had assists on the other Polhamus' tallies.

Falynn McCartney halted the four-goal Army run with her first of the season coming from Marissa Cortoneo to cut the lead down to 5-2. The Black Knights bounced back to head to the locker room with a 7-2 lead thanks to goals from Erin Jollota and Polhamus.

The Blue Devils started out hot in the second half with two-straight goals to Kylie Sullivan and Hughes cutting the lead to 7-4 with 25 minutes left in the game. Johnston stopped the run for a short time with her second of the day, but Central Connecticut fired back with Hughes and Jenna Henningsen cutting the lead down to 8-6 and at the 16:14 mark of the second it was Army leading 8-6.

Alexandra Hooker was able to stop an Army chance at a long stall in the offensive end when she scored with 2:45 left to make it a one-goal game at 8-7 with an assist to Hughes.

Army was able to win the ensuing crucial draw control on a foul call and this time the Black Knights were able to finish off the stall to earn the 8-7 win.

The women are back on the field on Feb. 25 against LIU Brooklyn for a 3 p.m. draw.