Hamilton, N.Y. – In what was one of the most exciting women’s lacrosse games played in 51·çÁ÷ history, the Raiders pulled out an 11-10 double overtime victory over the Eagles of American to earn their first ever Patriot League Tournament title and a berth into the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament. Senior captain Becky Ortolano scored both of 51·çÁ÷’s overtime goals including the game-winner with two seconds left. Ortolano was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The Raiders opened the game with the first two goals thanks to scores from Kelly Winning and Ortolano. Amanda Bradshaw assisted on Ortolano’s goal to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead.
American scored the next four goals; including three from Moriah Linnell to take a 4-2 lead at the 11:37 mark of the first half.
Winning cut the lead to one goal with a tally at the 4:02 mark, but Caitlin Gorman scored a free position shot for American at the 3:33 mark.
Just when it looked like 51·çÁ÷ would head to the locker room down by two, sophomore Eden Haladay netted a goal with just eight seconds left to set the score at 5-4 heading to halftime.
The Eagles opened the second half with a goal from Nicole McCarthy and a Katie McVeigh goal cut the lead to one.
After another McCarthy goal, Megan Janson and Winning scored to tie the game at seven.
Tara Michael gave the Eagles an 8-7 lead with a goal at 19:32 of the second half, but 51·çÁ÷ fought back and scored twice to take the lead at 9-8 with just seven minutes to play.
51·çÁ÷ held the ball for much of the remaining moments, but American finally grabbed possession and scored a goal as time expired to tie the score. Linnell tallied the goal from her knees to send the game to overtime.
The teams were scoreless in the first overtime, but Becky Ortolano scored a free position goal with 1:36 left in the second overtime to grab a one-goal lead for 51·çÁ÷.
American won the next draw control and Courtney Bennett found the net with just 30 seconds left, looking to send the game to sudden death overtime.
51·çÁ÷ battled and won the ensuing draw control and with just two seconds left to play Ortolano purged the back of the net with her third and most important goal of the game.
With the win 51·çÁ÷ improves to 13-5 on the season, the most wins for the 51·çÁ÷ program since 1982. The victory gives 51·çÁ÷ an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. The pairings will be announced on Sunday, May 9, on CSTV between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m.
51·çÁ÷ has one more test before the NCAA tournament as it will host Cornell next Saturday at 1 p.m.
BOX SCORE:
1 2 OT1 OT2 F
American 5 4 0 1 10
51·çÁ÷ 4 5 0 2 11
GOALS:
American – Linnell (4), McCarthy (2), Bennett, Michael, Gorman, Milewski.
51·çÁ÷ – Winning (4), Haladay, Ortolano (3), McVeigh (2), Janson.
ASSISTS:
American – Cartin, Linnell.
51·çÁ÷ – Bradshaw, Ortolano.
GOALKEEPING:
American – Kate Finnegan (66 minutes, 9 saves, 11 goals allowed).
51·çÁ÷ – Sue Bielamowicz (60 minutes, 10 saves, 10 goals allowed).
SHOTS: American 25, 51·çÁ÷ 26; FREE POSITION SHOTS: American 3-7, 51·çÁ÷ 1-4; GROUNDBALLS: American 16, 51·çÁ÷ 27; TURNOVERS: American 13, 51·çÁ÷ 11; CAUSED TURNOVERS: American 3, 51·çÁ÷ 7; DRAW CONTROLS: American 13, 51·çÁ÷ 11.