Sparkill, N.Y. (3/1/17)  The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's lacrosse team used a 4-0 first half run to rally and defeat the visiting Lady Chargers of Dominican College, 14-9, this afternoon in a non-conference game played at Spartan Field.

With the loss, Dominican falls to 0-1 on the season while STAC improves to 1-2.

Dominican netted the first two goals of the contest on back-to-back free positions shots from seniors Haliann Fitzgerald (Walden, N.Y.) and Shayne Gallagher (Blauvelt, N.Y.) for the early lead with 27:04 left in the first half.

Gallagher increased the Lady Charger lead with her second free position goal at the 25:41 mark to go ahead 3-1.

Following a STAC score, freshman attacker Alayna Heegan (North Babylon, N.Y.) tallied her first collegiate goal and Fitzgerald followed with her second game goal to give the team a 5-2 advantage with 15:39 left in the half.

In the remaining 15 minutes, the Spartans went on a 5-1 run to turn the deficit into a 7-6 lead at the break.  Gallagher broke four consecutive STAC goals with her third goal of the game with a little over a minute to go in the half.

The Spartans began the second with with the first three goals to increase the lead 10-6.  Fitzgerald completed the hat trick with her second free position score and after a Spartan goal, she recorded her third free positon goal with 14:29 to to make the score 11-8.

Heegan later followed with her second goal off the assist from senior Amber June (Stony Point, N.Y.) to bring the Lady Chargers within three goals, 12-9.  STAC ended the game with the last two goals for the final 14-9.

Fitzgerald paced DC with four goals.

Gallagher finished with three goals, while Heegan tallied two goals.

Goalie Cara Moran (Tomkins Cove, N.Y.) made nine saves in the loss.

Dominican returns to action next Tuesday in their home opener against the Univeristy of Bridgeport.  Game time is set for 4pm at the Torne Valley Sports Complex.