Women's Lacrosse Nipped by Norwich, 11-10 in Overtime

NORTHFIELD, Vt.— The Lasell College women's lacrosse team suffered their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference loss, falling 11-10 in overtime at Norwich University. With the win, the Cadets even their record to 2-2 overall and in GNAC play, while the loss drops the Lasers to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in league play.

Senior Baylie Lamarre (Tynsboro, Mass.) netted the game-winning goal with 1:20 left to play in overtime to propel Norwich to victory. Norwich senior midfielder Grace Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, Maine) led all players in points with five goals and three assists. She also scooped up a game-high seven ground balls and registered six draw control wins. Lamarre totaled three goals on the afternoon, and the Cadets saw single tallies by freshman Chapel Guarnieri (Pepperell, Mass.) and juniors Emma Smith (Patterson, N.Y.) and Gina Conroy (Amherst, N.H.).

The Lasers were led by senior Britney Wuorio (Bolton, Mass.) who scored a team-best five goals and dished out one assist. Juniors Toni Minelli (Newington, Conn.) and Caitlyn Brecher (Cheshire, Conn.) both scored twice, while sophomore Bridget Doherty (Franklin, Mass.) scored once.

Lamarre scored on Norwich's first possession of the game, using just 37 seconds to put the Cadets on the board. Fitzpatrick followed with her first goal of the game 1:58 later, but the Lasers scored six straight goals in a 15-minute span to take a 6-2 lead. Fitzpatrick and Lamarre would each tally another goal in the final 10 minutes of the first half to cut Lasell's lead to 6-4 at halftime.

The Norwich offense would keep the scoring streak alive in the second half, as Fitzpatrick netted back-to-back goals and Smith and Conroy both scored to give the hosts an 8-6 lead with 12:01 to play. Lasell's Brecher and Fitzpatrick traded quick goals at 9:55 and 9:28 to keep the two-goal Norwich advantage, but Wuorio cut the Cadets' lead to one goal on an unassisted tally with 2:12 still to play.

Norwich would win the initial draw following Wuorio's goal, but a costly turnover put the ball in Lasell's possession. The Lasers worked the clock down, and with 15 seconds left in regulation, Ashley Gleason (Suffield, Conn.) found Minelli from behind the net, and Minelli promptly placed the game-tying goal past Norwich goaltender Irene Okubo (Chicago, Ill.).

After 2:04 of scoreless overtime play in the six-minute overtime period, Wuorio gave the Lasers a brief 10-9 lead. Norwich's Guarnieri needed just 15 seconds to score the equalizer, and the Cadets would net the eventual game-winner 2:21 later. The Cadets won the final draw control of the game and maintained possession for almost the entire final 1:20, never allowing the Lasers an opportunity for rebuttal.

Obuko registered six saves en route to her second straight win between the pipes. Lasell goaltender Alexa Katsigianis totaled eight saves for the Lasers, who were outshot 27-22 on the afternoon.

Norwich held a 14-11 advantage in draw controls on the afternoon, including all five in the overtime period. The Cadets also scooped up 23 ground balls to Lasell's 19. The Lasers made 22 turnovers on the afternoon, while Norwich had 24.

The Cadets return to action this weekend, when they host Albertus Magnus College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Norwich will also play at home on Sunday against Rivier, game time is also slated for 1:00 p.m.