NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team outscored visitors Westfield State 4-0 in the fourth quarter, to come away with an 11-9 comeback win on a cold and rainy night from Silfen Field. With the win, Conn improves to 4-2 overall, while Westfield State falls to 3-3.
Westfield State (3-3) opened the scoring five and a half minutes into the contest, as Megan Bailey put the Owls up 1-0. With Conn (4-2) trailing, the Camels offense came to life. Reigning NESCAC Player of the Week, Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) got Conn on the board at 8:50, before Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.) gave the Camels a 2-1 lead at 8:05. Panke notched her second goal off an assist from Ainey Downey (Brookline, Mass.) , before Coughlin fed Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) to make it 4-1. Late in the quarter, Downey found the back of the cage, as Conn led 5-1 after one.
The Owls started the second quarter strong, tallying four straight goals to tie the game at five, with 6:04 to play. Coughlin notched her second goal of the contest at 4:44, to put the Camels back in front. Back-to-back goals from Westfield in the final two minutes gave the Owls a 7-6 lead at the break.
Westfield pushed the lead to two early in the third quarter, before both defenses hunkered down. Panke got Conn back within one goal at 1:46, but another late tally from the Owls gave Westfield a 9-7 lead heading to fourth. Coughlin completed her hat trick early in the fourth quarter to make it 9-8. Coughlin converted a free-position shot at 9:29 to tie the game, before Downey put the Camels in front 10-9 at 7:12. Downey found Johnston at 3:37 for an insurance marker, as Conn came away with the 11-9 win.
Conn outshot Westfield State 33-20, while controlling 15 of 22 draws.
Viollette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) notched the win in the cage, finishing with five saves, surpassing 300 career saves in the process. Coughlin paced the Camels with five points on four goals and one assist, while Downey added two goals and two assists. Panke notched a hat trick with Johnston tallying two goals.
Conn picked up 20 ground balls, with Brooke McKenna (Ridgewood, N.J.) scooping up four and Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) collecting three. The Camels caused seven turnovers with two caused by McKenna. Conn was 18-20 on clear attempts, while controlling 15 draws
Sydney Smith got the start in goal for Westfield State recording 11 saves. Bailey and Natalie DiMaio paced the Owls, as both recorded hat tricks.
Conn continues play at Silfen Field on Saturday as the Camels host No. 1 Middlebury at 11:00 a.m.
