SELINSGROVE, PA – Susquehanna University women's lacrosse held a 13-10 lead over Moravian with 90 seconds remaining. What happened next was nothing short of a full tilt for the Greyhounds as they went on a four-goal scoring spree in the final minute-and-a-half for a stunning 14-13 Landmark Conference win.
The day, which perhaps was the nicest weather at Sassafras Field for women's lacrosse so far this season, appeared to be in the River Hawks' grasp as goalie
Aerin O'Brien netted 16 saves and plenty of scoring to go around.
Allie Kutler and
Emma Kelleher each had three goals, along with Kelleher adding an assist for a four-point day to tie with
Heather Riefenhauser for the team lead in points, with Riefenhauser generating one goal and three assists. Kelleher's third goal of the day was SU's last as the River Hawks took a 13-10 lead with 1:28 to go.
Susquehanna was hampered by a series of yellow cards going into the fourth quarter, reaching the threshold of four where every subsequent yellow card required a two-minute non-releasable sit-down. After Kelleher's goal, Moravian won each draw control the rest of the way. The first in this stretch resulted in a high shot, but Susquehanna's
Kelsey Homberg was called for a yellow card, setting up a free position for the Greyhounds that Madi Dippel took advantage of to cut the lead to two with 1:28 left. Dippel grabbed the ensuing draw control and with 52 seconds left found the back of the net again to make it a one-goal game. Dippel again picked up the next DC, making it down to SU's end of the field and drawing another free position. This time it was Gianna Lotito who took it and tied the game up at 13-13, but not before another yellow card was issued to Emma Keller, setting up Moravian with the ball to potentially deliver a go-ahead strike. Just moments later it came to pass as Dippel scored off a feed from Lotito for her game-leading fifth goal and the game-winner.
The River Hawks overcame a 4-2 first-quarter deficit by scoring six in the second quarter to go into the half 8-8. They then outscored Moravian 3-1 in the third to lead 11-9 and scored two to the Greyhounds' one up until the last two minutes of the fourth.
Caitlin Harvey and Homberg each had two goals, with Homberg adding an assist for three points.
Liv Owen had a three-point day on one goal and two assists, with the remaining score from
Abby Andrus, who checks in with 12 goals over a two-game stretch after tying the Landmark Conference record with 11 goals in one game Monday at Drew.
The defeat hands Susquehanna a 1-1 Landmark record and its only loss in the month March after winning six in a row. At 7-3 overall the River Hawks look to keep their groove going entering the thick of league play on Wednesday, hosting Catholic at 4 p.m. from Sassafras Field.
