Defense clamps down as #1 Monroe defeats #3 Onondaga

ROCHESTER - After spotting the third-ranked Onondaga Community College Lazers an early 2-0 lead, the Monroe Community College defense tightened up and the offense broke out en route to a 14-7 Tribune victory in a Region III women's lacrosse game Saturday afternoon.

Sarah Brown finished the game with 13 saves, and MCC used a 7-0 run spanning the halves to take control and move to 8-0 on the season. The top-ranked Tribunes have now won 58 consecutive games.

The Lazers scored the game's first two goals before Taylor Excell finally broke through almost 10 minutes in to put Monroe on the board. Elle MacMillan then scored the first of her three first-half goals to tie it at 2.

Christie Hahn added a pair of unassisted scores for the Tribunes and the Lazers also tallied twice, tying the game at 4 with just under 10 minutes to go in the half.

That's when MCC took over. MacMillan scored twice and Gianna Branca, Nicole Beatson, and Devon McKercher also found the back of the cage to put the Tribunes up 9-4 at the half. 

Dana Isaacs and Zoe Hendricks then scored in the second half to push the lead to 11-4. The Lazers finally broke the scoring drought - which reached almost 30 minutes - with a score to cut it to 11-5 with 10:18 left.

Brown made six of her 13 saves during the 7-0 run, including three on free position shots.

Monroe then responded with three straight to put the game away. Onondaga added two late goals to provide the final margin.

Isaacs and MacMillan each scored three goals and Beatson added two goals and two assists for MCC. Hahn scored twice and McKercher tallied a goal and two assists.

Beatson also added four ground balls and three draw controls, MacMillan gathered four ground balls, and Charity Warner caused three turnovers.