NEWARK, Del. - - For the first time since the 2007 season, the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team defeated Georgian Court, hanging on down the stretch for a 16-15 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The win not only snapped a 22-game losing streak to the Lions (9-8, 8-2 CACC), but also tied the single season program record with 12 wins. The win also propelled the Wildcats (12-5, 8-2 CACC) to the No. 3 seed in the upcoming CACC Tournament. They will host No. 6 Bridgeport on Tuesday at the WU Athletics Complex in the First Round.
It was a quick start for the Wildcats, as they came out of the gates had a 7-3 advantage in the first quarter. After Georgian Court tied the game, 3-3, with 7:13 to play, Ella Royer started a 4-0 run to end the quarter with her third goal of the game with 5:14 to play. Lauren Gresham put home a pass from Maddie Day, and then Day scored a pass from Alea Javorowsky. Ella Baynes capped the quarter with a free position shot with 34 seconds left to lead 7-3.
Georgian Court scored two of the first three goals of the second quarter to get within 8-5, but then Makenzie Stritzinger and Alea Javorowsky scored the final two goals of the half, as the Wildcats led 10-5 at the break.
The Wildcats opened as large as a 14-6 lead late in the third quarter, but then needed to hang on down the stretch. Amelie Gamache started a 3-0 run for the Wildcats with her second goal of the quarter. Ella Baynes hit another free position shot and then Ella Royer scored with 2:42 to play to make it 14-6. The Lions cut into the deficit with goals with 1:45 to play and beat the buzzer with another goal to send the game into the fourth with the Wildcats leading 14-8.
The team's traded goals to start, as Alea Javorowsky scored her third of the game to make it 15-9. The Lions scored three straight to tighten the tension but then Ella Baynes scored with 3:10 to play, giving the Wildcats some breathing room, 16-12. But the Lions then scored three goals in a matter of 30 seconds, the final coming with 51 seconds left to pull the visitors to within 16-15.
Georgian Court won the ensuing draw, but a turnover and a ground ball by Zorah Perry effectively ended the contest as the Wildcats passed the ball around and watched the clock whittle to zero.
Katie Vindigni made 16 saves in the win, including 13 in the first half as the Lions outshot the Wildcats, 22-16, in the half.
Ella Royer led the team with five goals and an assist, adding three draws. Ella Baynes scored three goals on four shots while Alea Javorowsky scored twice but led the team with four assists. Maddie Day and Amelie Gamache scored two goals each while adding an assist. Gamache and Makenzie Stritzinger had four draws each as well.
