BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women’s Lacrosse advances to The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship game for the third straight season after a thrilling 13-12 victory in double overtime over the University of New England Wednesday afternoon.
The Nor’Easters wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, with Mallory Long (Lewiston, Maine) notching her first score just 25 seconds into the game. Kim Bilodeau (Durham, Maine) and Nicolle Steel (Petersburg, N.J.) followed with each player scoring a free position shot to give UNE a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes.
Claire Halliday (Trenton, N.J.) would put the Hawks on the board at the 23:40 mark, but Jessy Dvorak (Windsor, Conn.) and Bilodeau both found the back of the net to make it a 5-1 UNE advantage. Kasey Beckwith (Franklin, Conn.) and Natasha Billie (Pt. Pleasant, N.J.) responded for Roger Williams to pull the Hawks within two, yet Cara Cole (Norwood, Mass.) got one of the goals back for UNE with 17:06 left in the half. The Hawks closed out the period with scores by Danica Delia (Norwalk, Conn.) and Kate Malenczak (Sayville, N.Y.) to pull within one.
Less than three minutes into the second period, Billie tied the score at six with a free position shot, sparking a 3-0 run for Roger Williams over the next seven minutes. Cole snapped the scoring drought for the Nor’Easters with a goal at the 20:04 point of the half.
With the score tied at nine, Halliday fired a shot at the 12:10 mark to give the Hawks a one-goal lead. The lead would not last long as, Bilodeau notched the game-tying score with 8:34 to play in the half, ultimately sending the game into overtime.
In the first half of the first overtime period, the Hawks had the momentum in their favor, with Malenczak and Beckwith scoring to make it a 12-10 game before a penalty in the closing seconds by Halliday shifted the momentum in favor of UNE.
In the second half of the period, Long put UNE on her back, as she scored both goals for the Nor’Easters to bring them back and force a second overtime.
The sudden-death overtime period saw the Hawks win draw control and hold possession before a turnover gave the ball to UNE. The Hawks regained control after a failed clear by the Nor”Easters, leading to Malenczak scoring the game-winner of the with 1:07 left in the period.
Malenczak, Beckwith, and Halliday each tallied three goals for Roger Williams in the game, with Malenczak also assisting on two scores. Amanda Magee (Columbus, N.J.) notched 18 saves in the game, earning her 13th win of the year.
Long and Bilodeau each scored three goals for the Nor'Easters, with teammate Danielle Cate (Boscawen, N.H.) adding two assists. Tera Geraghty (Barrington, R.I.) made six saves for UNE in the loss.
Roger Williams (13-4) will travel to Beverly, Mass. for the TCCC Championship contest against Endicott College Saturday at 12 p.m. University of New England concludes the season with a record of 12-5.