PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A fourth quarter comeback fell a goal short by the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team, as Holy Family earned the narrow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory, 15-14, on Tuesday night at the newly renovated Tiger Field.
Trailing 14-10 heading into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats (9-6, 4-4 CACC) made a run at it, scoring four of the five goals in the fourth quarter, including getting to within 15-14 with 1:15 to showing on the clock.
After losing the draw, the Wildcats got the ball back on a caused turnover by Amelie Gamache with 41 seconds left. Ella Baynes had an opportunity with eight seconds left from a free position spot, but her shot went wide and the horn sounded on the game.
The Wildcats scored three consecutive goals int eh first quarter to take a 3-2 lead with 9:44 to play, getting goals from Campbell Heller, Lauren Gresham, and Ella Baynes. But the Tigers (7-8, 5-3 CACC) answered with three straight goals of their own to regain a 5-3 lead with 2:00 showing on the clock. Taylor Lambeth scored her first of the game to close out the first quarter, as the Tigers led, 5-4.
Taylor Lambeth tied the game with the first goal of the second quarter and then Amelie Gamache tied the game, 6-6 with a free position shot of her own with 12:28 to play. The Tigers rattled off the next three goals but the Wildcats answered with goals from Ella Baynes, Taylor Lambeth, and Campbell Heller to tie the game again, 9-9, with 9:23 to play. Holy Family ended the half on a 3-0 run again, taking a 12-9 lead into the break.
Maddie Day scored the first goal of the third quarter, but the Tigers scored the two other goals of the quarter in a low scoring frame to take a 14-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
Maddie Day and Taylor Lambeth scored to start the fourth quarter, bringing the Wildcats to within 14-12 with 8:20 left in regulation. The Tigers scored with 8:03 to play but then Maddie Day retaliated with a goal with 6:27 on the clock. Tori Grubowski made two saves over the next four minutes of game play and then Taylor Lambeth scored on a free position shot with 1:15 to play, 15-14.
Taylor Lambeth led the Wildcats with five goals and four assists while Maddie Day had three goals. Campbell Heller scored two goals and added an assist while Ella Baynes finished with two goals. Amelie Gamache had four caused turnovers and four draw controls while Makenzie Stritzinger led with six draws. Tori Grubowski had 15 saves in the game.
The Wildcats' regular season comes to a close on Saturday as they travel to Nyack for their final CACC game. The opening draw is set for 12:00 p.m. at Berry Lane Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.