Lacrosse Clips Smith in Thriller, 15-14
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (April 21, 2009) – Powered by senior midfielder Ava Gottschall’s game winning goal with 22 seconds remaining in regulation, the Mount Holyoke College women’s lacrosse team picked up a dramatic 15-14 triumph over local rival Smith College this evening. It was the Lyons first New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory of the season. Gottschall scored four times over the final 10:36 of regulation, as her team overcame a 13-11 deficit.
Five players found the net for Mount Holyoke, which snapped an eight game slide. Gottschall racked up a season high seven goals, while sophomore attacker Clara Raugei notched a hat trick. First year midfielders Alex Crean and Hilary Bombard chipped in with two goals apiece. The Lyons finished with advantages in both shots (34-29) and draw controls (13-12).
Leading the way for Smith was junior attacker Carolyn Whiting, who tallied six points on five goals and one assist. Senior midfielder Blair Rapalyea and first year midfielder Meaghan Fileti chipped in with four goals each. The Pioneers are winless in league play and have now dropped three straight contests.
Over the course of the game, there were eight ties, and neither team led by more than three goals.
Junior attacker Miriam Blumenfeld’s first tally of the year put Mount Holyoke in front 6-3 at the 13:55 mark of the opening frame, but the Pioneers closed out the half on a 5-2 run to knot things up at 8-8. Whiting led all scorers with four tallies at the break.
A goal by Rapalyea in the opening minute of the second stanza gave Smith a 9-8 edge. It was the Pioneers first lead of the day. They enjoyed a 13-11 advantage with 13:39 remaining in regulation, but Gottschall found the net three straight times over a span of 3:13 to put the Lyons in front 14-13 with 7:23 to go.
From there, both teams went scoreless until the 1:32 mark, when Whiting netted the equalizer.
Then, with the game in the balance, Mount Holyoke got possession of the ball, and Gottschall ripped a shot past Smith junior goalkeeper Chelsea Henderson for what proved to be the winner with 22 seconds left.
Sophomore Missy Hartley got the start between the pipes for the Lyons. She made three saves in 26 minutes played before giving way to first year Jeanmarie Petersen, who turned away eight shots in the final 34 minutes. It was Petersen’s first collegiate victory. Henderson took the loss despite collecting 15 saves.
Mount Holyoke (4-10, 1-5 NEWMAC) will put the finishing touches on its regular season slate at home versus non-conference foe Anna Maria College at 7:00 p.m.