Lacrosse Falls to Salisbury, Softball Players Earn Honors: Stevenson Sports Roundup

 Despite a game-high six goals from midfielder Neal Barthelme and a stellar day for faceoff man Ray Witte, top-ranked on Saturday failed to hold its early lead against No. 3 Salisbury, falling to the visiting Sea Gulls, 16-14, in the finals of the Capital Athletic Conference lacrosse tournament.

The win gave Salisbury (16-1) an automatic bid to next month's NCAA Division III tournament, which Stevenson (16-2) also is expected to make with an at-large berth. 
     
The Mustangs seemingly were in control, ending the first quarter with five straight goals to take an 8-3 lead. They led, 11-7, late in the second quarter when Salisbury -- in need of a spark -- replaced starting goalie Johnny Rodriguez with backup Tim Swinburn.
     
The move paid off handsomely for the Sea Gulls, who went on to score eight straight goals and hold Stevenson scoreless for a span of 20:42. Midfielder Tony Mendes (five goals, one assist) scored three during the stretch, including the go-ahead goal with 2:07 left in the third quarter.
     
Stevenson, meanwhile, time and again came up empty against Swinburn, who finished with a career-high 12 saves. The Mustangs converted on just two of 13 extra-man opportunities on the day. 

Softball Players Earn All-CAC Honors
Stevenson sophomore Sara DiMeglio has been named first-team All-CAC softball as a utility player, becoming the first Mustang to earn first-team honors since 2008. Senior Desirae Sullivan also earned second-team honors.       

DiMeglio is hitting .280 with a home run and eight RBIs, starting all 36 of the team's games as both a catcher and designated player. Sullivan, meanwhile, leads the team with a .327 batting average, 36 hits, nine doubles and 22 RBIs.
     
Stevenson was 18-17-1 heading into Monday's scheduled double-header against Washington College.

Baseball Upset Bid Falls Short
After rallying to tie the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, host Stevenson saw its upset bid fall short when it allowed five runs in the top of the 10th to No. 4 Shenandoah in a 9-4 loss Thursday.
     
The Mustangs (12-23) were looking for their second win over a nationally ranked team this season, after topping then-No. 16 Johns Hopkins in early April.
     
Stevenson led for the most of the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first and extending it to 3-1 in the third. The Hornets, however, then took their first lead in the top of the seventh, scoring an unearned run on a fielding error.
     
The Mustangs tied the game on a bases loaded walk by freshman Scott Merkel before Shenandoah (33-4) won it in extra innings.
     
Juniors Kyle Van Beek and Justin Anderson each had three hits in the loss.

Golf Team Wins Hood Invitational
Stevenson sophomore Kyle Gerard fired an 11-over par 83, tying Hood's Evan Chaney for low medalist honors as the Mustangs took first place by 17 strokes Wednesday at the Hood Invitational at Holly Hills Country Club.
     
The Mustangs finished with 345, to top Hood (362) and Marymount (no score). Gerard posted his fourth top-five finish this season.
     
Stevenson concludes its season with Tuesday's Messiah Falcon Classic at Blue Ridge Country Club.

Mustang Women Suffer Double Overtime Loss in CAC Semifinals
Host Stevenson allowed the game's final three goals in overtime, including the game-winner by Mary Washington's Lauren Callison with 1:42 left in the second extra period, in Tuesday's 16-15 double overtime loss in the semifinals of the CAC women's lacrosse tournament.
     
The loss snapped a season-best four-game winning streak for the Mustangs (10-6), who were making their fourth consecutive appearance in the conference semifinals and the first at home after earning the No. 2 seed.
     
The goal was Callison's first of the game, and came off a free-position attempt by Allie Kimmelman, who found Callison cutting to the far post.
     
For much of the game, Stevenson appeared to be in control. Senior Megan Weiss scored four of the Mustangs' first nine goals to help it build a 9-5 lead early in the second half. Mustangs senior Lisa Baker and freshman Mandy Marston also scored two goals each.
     
Despite 15 saves by goalie Jenny Schroeder, two shy of her season and career-high, the Mustangs continually hurt their own cause with 21 turnovers.
     
Stevenson wraps up the 2011 regular season at home Thursday against No. 17 Elizabethtown.