Riann Daziel scored the first goal barely a minute into the game and University of Mount Olive built a three-goal lead in the first half, but national poll vote-getter Dowling College rallied to defeat the Trojans 12-10 in non-conference women's lacrosse Monday at Amon Field. The loss was only the second at home this season for Mount Olive (10-5).
Michelle Fortier led the Trojans with three goals, while Daziel, Candace Corkin and Katie McGovern added two goals apiece.
Both teams dedicated Monday's contest to "Team Molly" in honor of Molly Seifritz, who played lacrosse at Buffalo State College (N.Y.) from 2007-2011. Seifritz was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer called Ewing Sarcoma and she lost her two-year battle with the disease in March of last year. Around 10 collegiate women's lacrosse programs in Upstate New York began the Team Molly program last year and proceeds from special warm-up t-shirts went to Roswell Cancer Research Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The number of participating women's lacrosse teams increased to 30 this year.
Team Molly hits close to home for the Mount Olive women's lacrosse team. Trojan assistant coach Theresa Walton is from Seifritz's hometown of Syracuse, N.Y., where the two both played high school lacrosse.
The Trojans have already wrapped up conference play and have secured a home game in the opening round of the 2014 Conference Carolinas Women's Lacrosse Tournament. No. 3 seed Mount Olive will play host to No. 6 seed Converse April 22 at Amon Field.
Mount Olive concludes regular season play Wednesday as the Trojans play host to former conference member Coker. Game time is 4 p.m. at Amon Field.