Box Score
EWING, N.J. – The College of New Jersey turned in the final four goals, including three to end regulation, en route to an 11-10 overtime victory over Gettysburg College in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Lions' Stadium Thursday night.
The battle of top-10 teams lived up to its billing once again as No. 7 TCNJ (5-0) improved to 14-4 all-time against fifth-ranked Gettysburg (4-1). Among those 18 meetings, nine have been decided by one goal, including an 11-10 decision in favor of the Bullets last season.
The Lions stormed back in Thursday night's meeting, netting three goals over the final 3:41 of regulation. A goal by junior
Bridget Kenny (Gladstone, N.J./Bernards) made it 10-7 in favor of the Bullets with 6:10 on the clock. The visitors won the next draw control, but a turnover handed it back to the hosts.
Jen Garavente sliced the deficit to two with a goal at 3:41. After an exchange of turnovers on the next set of possessions, TCNJ made it a one-goal game with as Ava Fitzgerald scored at 1:10.
The Lions won the next draw and maintained possession until drawing a foul and a free-position attempt. Erin Waller connected on the equalizer off the free-position shot to tie the game with 34 seconds to go.
TCNJ, which won the final six draw controls of regulation and overtime, gained the ball out of the draw circle one last time before the final horn. The Lions were thwarted in their attempt to end the game as freshman goalie
Shannon Keeler (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) stopped a free-position shot by Lauren Pigott with three seconds left.
In the extra session, TCNJ took advantage of a yellow card on the Bullets and a free-position attempt as Fitzgerald scored the eventual game-winner with 3:19 remaining. The Lions won each of the next two draw controls and evaded the defensive pressure to hold on for the win.
Gettysburg was in control early with a four-goal run in the first half. TCNJ opened with the first goal before junior
Mandy Buell (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) went for back-to-back tallies. Kenny scored a man-up goal at 16:10 and senior
Kelsey Markiewicz (Taconic, Conn./Berkshire School (Mass.)) scored at 13:32 to make it 4-1.
The Lions scored five of the next six goals with a three-goal run in the second half giving the hosts a 6-5 lead with 13:39 to play. Senior
Loren Pruitt (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) tied the game 26 seconds later and back-to-back goals by Markiewicz and sophomore
Abby Baigelman (Larchmont, N.Y./Mamaroneck) 11 seconds part gave the Bullets an 8-6 lead with 11:15 on the clock.
Following a goal by Garavente at 8:37, Markiewicz and Kenny went back-to-back to give Gettysburg its final three-goal lead.
Markiewicz finished with three goals and four draw controls, while Buell and Kenny each tallied two goals and one assist. Pruitt added two goals. Keeler finished with eight saves, four ground balls, and four caused turnovers in front of the cage.
Kendal Borup led TCNJ with four goals and Fitzgerald ended the night with three tallies. Goalie Kelly Schlupp posted fives for the Lions.
TCNJ finished with the edge in shots (27-20), ground balls (16-15), and draw controls (14-11).
Gettysburg opens its Centennial Conference schedule at home against Haverford College on Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m.
