NEWARK, Del. - - Three straight goal spanning the halftime break gave Molloy the lead for good as the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team fell for the second straight time to an East Coast Conference team, 13-10, at the WU Athletics Complex on Friday afternoon.
The Wildcats (2-3 overall) battled back to tie the game at 6-6 late in the first half, but Molloy (3-3 overall) scored the final tally of the first half, and the first two of the second half to grab a three-goal lead and never look back.
After falling behind, 5-2, early in the first half, the Wildcats scored four of the next five goals to get back into the contest. Freshman Gabby Spalt started the rally with her second goal of the game with 18:17 remaining in the opening stanza before Brittany Rhodes cut the deficit to one with her lone goal of the game, off a feed from Rebekah McCurry.
Following a Molloy mark with 6:28 to play in the half, The Wildcats responded with back-to-back goals once again, as Katie Spence and McCurry found the back of the net to tie the game at 6-6 with 3:53 showing on the board.
Directly off the ensuing draw, Molloy's Cooper Sesselman scooped up the ball and took it directly to goal, putting one past Wilmington's goalkeeper Corinee Dries for the 7-6 lead. The score would remain 7-6 heading into the halftime break.
Molloy came out in the second half and tallied back-to-back goals in the first two minutes to put the Wildcats on their heels.
McCurry brought the Wildcats back to within two with her second goal of the afternoon but Molloy responded with back-to-back goals once again to take their largest lead of the afternoon at 11-7.
Senior defender Ali Kern found an open slot in front and rocketed a shot to the upper left corner of the goal with 12:57 remaining in regulation to put the Wildcats back on the board. McCurry continued her strong offensive output with her third goal of the afternoon with 10:21 to play, bringing the Wildcats to within two, trailing 11-9.
But the Lions wouldn't allow the Wildcats to get any closer for the remainder of the game, as the visitors tallied two more goals, the last coming with 2:17 on the clock to ice the game. Spalt connected with 1:54 to play, but it wasn't enough for the Wildcats as Molloy was able to run out the clock.
Wilmington held a 24-21 advantage in shots and 15-10 in draw controls, but failed on all five free-position opportunities in the contest.
McCurry and Spalt finished with three goals and an assist each, while Spence and Keffer each tallied a goal and an assist for a pair of points. The Wildcats' net-minder Corinne Dries made five stops in the cage in the loss.
The Lions were led by Samantha Arlotta's four goals and five points while Katie O'Brien tallied four goals. The Lions' Laura Vetter recorded the win in goal with three first half saves before Caroline Winter came on and recorded four saves in the second half.
The Wildcats continue their five-game home stand next Tuesday, as they return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action against South Division rival Holy Family. The game is set with a 4 p.m. opening draw at the WU Athletics Complex.
