Lacrosse | 3/11/2015 1:00:00 AM
Box Score LAGRANGE, Ga. - - The Ave Maria University Women's Lacrosse team defeated non- conference opponent LaGrange College 12-11 in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night. The game went into two overtime periods, with the second being in sudden death. The Lady Gyrenes are currently 2-4 overall, 1-2 in NWLL play.
The Blue and Green will take on Point University in West Point, Ga. on Friday at 4:00 p.m. AMU played Point last week in Orlando, Fla, as the game was evenly matched with the Eagles winning g the game 8-5.
The first half was all Ave as they came out strong; scoring the first three goals of the game to lead 3-0. The Panthers came back with two unanswered goals with 22 minutes remaining in the first half. AMU shut down LaGrange for the rest of the half, scoring six unanswered goals to build a 9-2 lead at halftime.
AMU had trouble getting transition started in the second half; as the Panthers played an aggressive up-tempo midfield game and AMU made costly mistakes down the stretch. Up 11-6 with 16 minutes left, LaGrange scored five unanswered goals form five difference players to force overtime.
LaGrange contolled the draw and held the ball for a possible winning shot as a major foul was called on AMU in the closing seconds of regulation by Hannah Camerota.
AMU got the game-winner in the sudden death overtime period, as
Lydia Buckley (Saint Louis, Mo.) scored her fifth goal of the game to give the Blue and Green the 12-11 win.
"Although we let a 9-2 first half lead slip away, the way we rallied in overtime really speaks volumes about the heart this team has. We stayed composed and came away with the victory. We definitely have some work to do; but we are coming together at just the right time," said head coach Kelly Buikus.
Kelsey Hughes (Hobe Sound, Fla.) had the task of shutting down the Panther's biggest offensive threat, keeping her to only two goals.
Hannah Camerota (Enfield, Conn.) finished the game with 12 saves.
Also scoring for the Lady Gyrenes was
Marina Gonzales (Naples, Fla.) (2 goals),
Kaylin Mayeski (Naples, Fla.) (2 goals),
Martha Mendoza (Sun Valley, Calif.),
Catie Cox (Chesterfield, Mo.), and
Abby Castro (Miami, Fla.).
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