ASHLAND, Ohio - - A 7-0 run spanning the second and third quarters was too much for the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team to overcome as its fourth quarter comeback falls just short, 12-10, at Ashland on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing by as many as five early in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats (2-1) tried to close the gap and won the fourth quarter, 4-2, but it was too little too late as the Eagles (2-0) was saved by the horn.
Ashland started with the first two goals of the game and then the Wildcats fired back with the final three goals of the first quarter of the opening goal of the second quarter to take a 4-2 lead. Makenzie Stritzinger bookended the 4-0 run while Maddie Day scored the two middle goals.
Stritzinger's goal with 13:22 to play in the second would be the final goal of the half for the Wildcats, as Ashland started their 7-0 run with the three final goals of the second quarter, first tying the game with 3:52 to play and then taking the lead just 16 seconds later, 5-4.
The run continued into the third quarter, as the Eagles scored the first four goals, taking a 9-4 lead with 9:30 to play in the quarter. Ella Royer got on the scorecard with her first of the day to break the streak, and then scored the final goal of the third, but the Wildcats were trailing 10-6 heading into the fourth frame.
Ashland scored the first goal of the fourth, but then the Wildcats started their comeback. Ella Royer started the run with her third goal of the day and then Ella Baynes converted a free position shot with 7:54 to play to make it 11-8.
The draw circle was the Achilles heel all afternoon and was following Baynes' goal, as the Eagles won the draw and eventually scored with 7:05 to play to break the Wildcats' momentum.
Katie Vindigni made a pair of saves to keep Ashland off the board, but the Eagles did a good job of wasting clock and holding possession. The Wildcats didn't get back on the board until 1:37 to play when Ella Royer scored her fourth of the game win a free position shot to make it 12-9.
An Ashland goal was wiped off the board by an illegal stick and the Wildcats came right down and scored with nine seconds left as Maddie Day netted her third of the game. But Ashland controlled the ensuing draw and ran out the clock.
Ella Royer led the Wildcats with four goals while Day finished with a hat trick as well. Makenzie Stritzinger scored twice while adding four draws. Amelie Gamache led with two assists and six ground balls. Katie Vindigni made 11 saves in the game.
The Wildcats hop back on the bus and head towards West Virginia once again for their next contest. They play at West Virginia Wesleyan on Tuesday with the opening draw set for 2:00 p.m.