NEWARK, Del. - - A four-goal stretch spanning the halftime break proved to be too much to overcome for the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team, as Jefferson won the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest, 14-9, on Tuesday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Jefferson (6-3, 5-0 CACC) won the first quarter, 4-1, and led 6-1 early in the second quarter before the Wildcats (8-4, 3-2 CACC) fought back to get in the game. But the Rams scored the final goal of the half with 39 seconds left and then the first three goals of the third quarter to open a 10-4 lead and earn the victory.
Maddie Day started the scoring with her first goal of the game, putting the Wildcats up, 1-0 just 17 seconds into the game. But the Rams scored the final four goals of the first quarter to lead 4-1. The Rams scored the first two goals of the second quarter as well, taking a 6-1 lead with 11:41 to play in the half.
Campbell Heller sparked a 3-0 run by the Wildcats, as Ella Baynes and Maddie Day scored to close the gap to within 6-4 with 1:17 to play. Tristan Holdsworth recovered the ensuing draw control, but the Rams forced a turnover and went the other way, scoring the final goal of the half to take a 7-4 lead into the break.
The Rams scored the first three goals of the third quarter as well, taking a 10-4 lead with 12:36 to play. The Wildcats ended the run with a goal from Campbell Heller with 7:39 left, but then the Rams scored the final two goals of the third quarter to lead, 12-5.
Campbell Heller scored back-to-back free position goals to start the fourth to claw to within 12-7 with 11:28 to play. Ella Baynes had a chance to make it three straight and put the pressure on the Rams, but the Jefferson netminder made the stop on the free position attempt and the Rams took it the other way and scored to stop the Wilmington momentum.
The teams traded goals the rest of the way, as the Wildcats won the fourth quarter, 4-2, but it was too little too late.
Campbell Heller led the Wildcats with four goals and two assists. Maddie Day scored three goals while Lauren Gresham dished out two assists. Juliana Kolakowski caused four turnovers while scooping up five ground balls. Maris Swanson caused three turnovers as well.
Katie Vindigni stopped a career best 20 saves in the loss, the 10th most in a single game in program history.
The Wildcats have one more home game in their five-game homestand, as they welcome Caldwell to the Complex for another CACC contest. The opening draw is set for 1:00 p.m.