Late Goal Gives Wells 7-6 Win over Highlanders
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Wells College scored the final two goals of the contest, the last coming with 15 seconds left, to give the Express a 7-6 win over the Houghton Highlanders in women's lacrosse action Wednesday.
Neither team would lead the other by more than a goal in a back and forth first half. Tyler Reese (Unionville, PA, Unionville High School) Rachel Stefanski (Wallingford, CT, Lyman Hall) and Amanda Zacchigna (East Aurora, NY, East Aurora) each scored first half goals for the Highlanders, who trailed the Express 4-3 at the break.
Nicole Mason (East Aurora, NY, East Aurora) converted a free position shot attempt with just over a minute gone in the second half to even the score at four and Stefanski added her second of the game to give Houghton a one goal edge at 5-4. After another Express goal evened the score, Maesa Phongsamouth (Leominster, MA, Leominster) responded for the Highlanders to push the lead to 6-5 with just under nine minutes remaining. The Express scored again with 4:38 to go to tie the contest at six.
Still tied with 39 seconds left, the Express recovered a ground ball in Houghton territory, advanced the ball up field and got off a shot with 29 ticks on the clock. Houghton keeper Lauren Niswander (Peninsula, OH, Revere) made the save and It looked like the game would be heading for overtime. However, the Highlanders failed to clear, and the loose ball was picked up by the Express’s Madeline Bass. As Bass approached the crease, the Highlander defenders were able to knock the ball away, but the momentum of the loose ball carried it past Niswander and into the net with 15 seconds left.
The following draw was controlled by Zacchigna, who carried the ball past the Express defense and was able to get a shot off the just before time expired. However the shot flew wide and out of bounds as the clock reached 00:00.
Niswander had 11 saves for the Highlanders. Wells goalie Chelsea Dann had three saves.
The Express held the advantage on ground balls secured, 36-30. Wells committed 25 turnovers, eight fewer than the Highlanders.
The Highlanders are back in action on March 23 as they travel to Oneonta, N.Y. to play Hartwick at 2 p.m.