Rangers Comeback Falls Short in Final Minutes

Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 7, 2011) – The eighth -ranked Catholic Cardinals (14-3) won their fourth-straight Landmark Conference Championship this afternoon in a tightly contested battle in the nation's capital. Drew (11-8), who trailed by three goals in the second half, had a comeback fall short losing, 12-11 in the final minutes.

The Rangers held the lead three times in the first half but the Landmark Conference's top offense came back on each occasion tying the game at six with one second left on the clock in the first frame. The Rangers scored four straight goals early in the first half to overcome a 2-0 deficit. Aileen Musynske (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial) netted two goals in the first thirty minutes.

After tying the game at the last possible moment in the first half the Cardinals would not surrender the lead for the remainder of the game. Brown scored her second of the afternoon just 1:50 into the half and tied the game for the fourth and final time at 7-7. Catholic went on to rattle off three-straight goals to capture their largest lead of the game, 10-7 with 14:25 on the clock.

Cara Jeffries (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V Moore) and Sloane Coles (The Plains, Va./Foxcroft School) exchanged goals with Conference Player of the Year Mary Swarthout and Lindsey Davenport to make the score 12-9 with 10:01 left in the game.

The two offenses went dormant for the next 9:10 until Jeffries converted on a free position with :51 seconds left. Brown then registered her 10th hat trick of the season with the game's final goal with just 13 ticks remaining.

The Cardinals were excellent off the draw all day, holding an 18-6 advantage. The Catholic defense also forced 20 Drew turnovers, including 12 in the second half.

Ranger goalkeeper Rachel Hanley (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) made 14 saves on the afternoon, playing all 60 minutes between the pipes.

The Rangers have the highest strength of schedule rating in the region and are hopeful of their third-consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. Teams will be announced on Sunday evening on NCAA.com