LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The third seeded Wilmington University women's lacrosse team led for the majority of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Semifinal contest against No. 2 Jefferson, but the Rams scored five of the last six goals to force overtime, before scoring the game-winner, 13-12, to complete the comeback on Friday afternoon at the GCU Turf Field.
The Wildcats (11-8) scored three straight goals in the second half to lead 11-7 with 19:32 to play in regulation, but couldn't hang on as Jefferson (10-5) stormed back late in the game. Brooke Siebert gave the Wildcats a 12-10 lead with 6:56 remaining but the Rams scored the final two goals to tie the contest, the final goal coming with 33 ticks left.
The Rams then thought they had wont he game with two seconds remaining on the clock, but the goal was then taken away due to the officials being unable to identify the goal-scorer's stick as multiple Rams laid their sticks down in celebration.
That put a breathe into the Wildcats' lungs, and Mikailla Spencer forced a turnover in transition early in the overtime period. The Wildcats found Maddie Day open in front of the net, but her point blank shot was saved and the Rams went the other way.
The clear attempt was successful for Jefferson, and Kanha Stockford buried the shot just 1:45 into the extra period in the golden-goal situation.
The first half was a back and forth contest, as Taylor Lambeth and Brooke Siebert scored back-to-back goals to take a 4-2 lead. Jefferson tied the game with back-to-back goals with 10:43 to play, but the Wildcats had the last say of the half, as Maddie Day and Lashay Ross scored consecutive goals to head into the break leading 8-6.
The Rams got to within one with the first goal of the second half, but Delaney Steele and Siebert scored a pair of goals before Delaney Steele made it three in a row for the Wildcats for the 11-7 lead with 19:32 left in regulation.
Siebert led the Wildcats with five goals, 11 draws, and three caused turnovers while Taylor Lambeth, Lashay Ross, and Delaney Steele had two goals each. Lambeth and Steele had two assists as well in the contest. Maddie Day scored a goal and added an assist while Maris Allened dished out three assists in the game.
Maddie Hurm made three saves in the first half before Tori Grubowski stopped seven shots in the second half.
The Wildcats finished with the most wins in a single season in program history, going 11-8 overall.
