COLLEGEVILLE, PA (March 23, 2022) -- The Susquehanna University women's lacrosse team led 14-12 with 5:29 to play at Ursinus College Wednesday afternoon, but the host Bears rattled off four straight goals over the waning minutes to rally for a 16-14 win over the River Hawks in action from Patterson Field on a chilly, rainy evening in the Keystone State. 

It was a back-and-forth game between two evenly matched teams, as no squad led by more than two goals during the contest. The two squads alternated goals over the first 10 minutes of the game before a strike from Allie Kutler with 4:11 left in the first quarter gave Susquehanna (7-3) its first lead at 3-2. Ursinus rallied back to pot a pair of goals around a score from Hannah McNamara to make it 4-4 after the opening period of action. 

In the second quarter, Ursinus regained its lad on a score from Grace Lynch but SU roared back with a 4-1 run capped by a goal from sophomore Heather Riefenhauser to make it 8-6 in favor of Susquehanna going into halftime. 

The third quarter featured only four total goals, two from each team, as SU took a 10-8 advantage into the fourth quarter. With 5:29 to go in the game, Riefenhauser took a pass from Kelsey Homberg and scored to make it 14-12 Susquehanna, followed by a draw control by the River Hawks to try to run down the clock. 

A turnover led to transition for the Bears, and Maeve Leonzi scored off of the clear to trim the River Hawk lead to one. A minute later Ursinus scored on a rebound of a free position shot to tie the game, and followed with a goal off the draw control to take a 15-14 edge with 1:57 to go. Grace Lynch netted an insurance goal for UC with 1:15 to go as the River Hawks would get no closer. 

Caroline Chase continued her ascension up the all-time career leader board for points at Susquehanna, as she finished with seven Wednesday to move into the No. 12 spot all-time with 149 for her career. Chase tallied two goals and five assists, adding a ground ball, while Riefenhauser posted a team-leading four goals. Liv Owen finished with three points on two goals and an assist, and Homberg continued her hot play of late with two goals, an assist and five draw controls. The sophomore now has 95 draw controls for her career. 

Kutler posted a career-high 11 draw wins for the River Hawks, and Caitlin Harvey also finished with six draw controls. Sophomore Liz Hordesky led the team with two caused turnovers, and sophomore Madi Mitchell picked up two loose balls as well. Junior goalkeeper Emmy Regan made eight stops in net for the River Hawks, who dropped their first game in their last five. 

Lynch posted a game-high five goals for the Bears (4-3), while Leonzi also posted four goals as well. In a very tight game, Ursinus outshot the River Hawks 30-29, while SU posted 23 draw control victories to just the 11 for the Bears. 

Up Next

• The River Hawk women will return home to Sassafras Field Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. to open Landmark Conference play, taking on No. 18 Catholic University (3-4) in conference action. 

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