PANAMA CITY BEACH, Florida – A strong defensive stand had The College of Wooster women's lacrosse team well positioned late in regulation before Westfield State University stunned the Fighting Scots with two goals in the final 47 seconds to tie the game, then the Owls walked off win the 17-16 win in overtime to open the 2024 SpringFling women's lacrosse event at Publix Sports Park.
Wooster (4-1) sophomore Bella Woodbury scored with 4:22 remaining in the fourth period to stake the Scots to a 16-14 lead. Wooster won the ensuing draw control, retained possession after the ball was loose all the way back in the defensive end, then Westfield's (3-0) Sydney Smith saved a shot from junior Kenzie Morris. Sophomore Sidney O'Rourke's ride on Natalie DeMaio caused the Owls' attacker to lose possession with 1:38 remaining in regulation. Junior Lexi Sarne scooped up the groundball, but Wooster could not get out of the defensive end before turning the ball over.
Cards handcuffed Wooster down the stretch, as the Scots were booked for a pair of yellow cards in the final 80 seconds of regulation. That enabled Emma Cretella to score two of her game-high six goals, the last of which tied the game with 21 seconds left in regulation. Senior Angelina Bolivar was credited with a caused turnover at the end of regulation when Mykenzie Black tried to work to goal for a game-winning try among a swarm of Scot defenders.
Wooster started overtime playing two Scots down, and still won the draw control. Woodbury tracked it down before Wooster turned the ball over when attempting a pass to the wing in the offensive end. Following Westfield's transition, junior Ashley Reynolds' sprawling save was the goalkeeper's ninth of the contest. Kiely Hafensteiner picked up the rebound and netted the game-winner with 4:55 left in overtime.
Earlier, Wooster overcame a slow start and had the score tied at six in a wild, offensive-driven first quarter. A 4-0 run with two goals by senior Kenzie Smith, plus scores by Morris and senior Ciara O'Connor, enabled Wooster to tie the game. The Scots took their first lead of the day at 11-10 when sophomore Brynne Snaguski beat an Owls' defender at the third period's 7:05 mark. Wooster's lead was at two following an O'Connor score that made it 13-11.
O'Connor and Smith had seven of Wooster's 16 goals. Sophomore Lizzie Hardy, who recorded her 100th career draw control in the game, finished with four to pair with a quartet of caused turnovers. Reynolds' nine saves marked a season-high and the second-most of the junior's career. Other key contributions included eight O'Rourke draw controls and two Snaguski goals.
Cretella added six caused turnovers to the six goals. Kylie Buchanan followed with three goals, while Megan Bailey had three of the Owls' 15 caused turnovers. Smith finished with 10 saves.
Wooster outshot Westfield 33-31 and had a sizable 22-14 lead in draw controls. Groundballs went Westfield's way at 24-19. Westfield was 17-for-21 on clears to a 14-for-19 mark for Wooster.
Next, Wooster plays Plymouth State University (2-1) at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT on Thursday, March 14 at the SpringFling.