Box Score Location: Schueler Field (Cincinnati, OH)
The Basics:
The Mount St. Joseph University women's lacrosse team battled the Thunder of Trine University in a back and forth game on Wednesday. The teams exchanged goals all night, with neither team ever leading by more than two goals. For the first time this season The Mount finished at halftime all tied up 7-7. The game would go into overtime tied 16-16, with the Lions tying the score on a late goal. The game finished just 20 seconds into overtime, with the Lions securing a 17-16 victory, their first of the season.
How it Happened:
Trine got on the board first with a quick goal, the Lions followed up quickly with a goal from senior Courtney Gleason (Cincinnati, OH/Seton). Brianna Brannon (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) followed up with with her second goal of the season, as she went in unassisted and gave the Mount its first lead of the season. Trine came back with a goal to tie the score. Then Gleason found Kara Marshall (Cleveland, OH/Laurel) for a connection to get goal number three. The Thunder came right back to tie it up once again. The Lions tied the score, then took the lead on a pair of goals from Gleason. Trine followed suit with a pair of goals of their own to regain the lead. Next Freshman Gabriella Halfhill (Liberty Township, OH / Lakota West) scored her first collegiate goal, which tied the score at 6. Trine looked to go into the half nursing a 7-6 lead but Maria Sams (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) had other intentions. She raced down the field and found the back of the net with only five seconds remaining in the half. Helping the Lions to go into the halftime break tied for the first time this season.
The Lions got off to a quick start in the second half as only 40 seconds into the action Sams found the net for the second time in the game. Followed by a Marshall goal pushing the Lions lead to a game high of two points. Trine answered with a pair of goals to knot the score again at 9. Brannon and Sams both found the net again helping the Lions to regain the lead. The Thunder would not quit though as they again fought back to tie the score. Junior Sarah Winsted (Ross, OH/Ross) scored her first career goal with 22:19 on the clock. Trine came back with three unanswered goal to take their first lead of the second half at 13-12. Marshall again tied the score at 13 giving her a hat-trick in the game. The teams continued to exchange goals the rest of the way, Trine was able to take the lead 1:33 remaining on the clock. The Lions, as had been the case throughout the game, did not quit. With only 6 seconds left on the clock Halfhill lined up for a free-position shot, she was able to get it past the goalie. The goal would send the game into sudden death overtime.
Sudden death overtime started with three minutes on the clock but the Lions would only need 16 seconds to settle the final score. Marshall again took a pass from fellow captain Gleason and drilled on past the goalie for the Lions first win of the season.
Interim Head Coach had this to say about the teams first victory this season and the first of her coaching career: "I am so proud and excited for our team as this win was a perfect example of great teamwork and pushing through obstacles. Each player demonstrated hard work and passion which lead to the victory."
Up Next:
Our Lions will compete in a conference matchup at home against Earlham Wednesday 4/4 at 7:00 pm at Schueler Field (Cincinnati, OH).
