HARTFORD, Conn. - The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team built an 11-7 fourth quarter lead, and held on to defeat No. 18 Trinity College 11-10 on a rainy Wednesday night from Robin L. Sheppard Field, for the Camels first win over the Bantams since 2001. With the win, Conn improves to 6-4 on the season and 2-4 in conference play, while Trinity falls to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in conference action.
Trinity (5-4, 2-3 NESCAC) started quickly, jumping out to a 2-0 lead just over three minutes into the contest. Conn (6-4, 2-4 NESCAC) responded with a free-position goal from Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) at 8:27, before Caroline Bruce (Acton, Mass.) tied the game just under a minute later. The tie was short lived however, as the Bantams went back in front at 6:28 on a goal from Caroline Lampert. Both defenses settled in, as Trinity led 3-2 after one.
The Camels came to life in the second quarter, opening the frame with three straight markers to go in front 5-3. Janet Howard (Madison, Conn.) got Conn going with a free-position goal at 12:59, before Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) connected with Bruce to give the Camels their first lead. Howard added a second goal at 10:37, but back-to-back goals for the Bantams had the game tied at five. With just under three minutes left, Howard completed her hat trick off an assist from Downey as Conn led 6-5 at the break.
The offense slowed down in the third quarter for both teams, but it was the Camels that extended the lead. Midway through the frame, Great Panke (Milldale, Conn.) was awarded a free-position shot, making no mistake to put Conn up 7-5. Trinity responded with a goal at 2:48, but with the Camels playing a woman-up, Coughlin found the back of the net, to give Conn an 8-6 edge heading to the fourth.
The Bantams struck early in the final frame, cutting the deficit to one, but the Camels answered. Downey hit Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) for a marker at 11:04, pushing the lead back to two goals. Coughlin converted on another woman-up opportunity at 6:28, before a quirk second goal from Johnston pushed the lead to four. Trinity responded however, with three goals in three minutes to cut the lead to one, with a minute and a half to play. The Bantams had a chance to tie as time was winding down, but the Camels defense held strong, securing the 11-10 win.
Trinity outshot Conn 22-20, while controlling 16 of 24 draws.
Viollette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) picked up the win in net, finishing with eight saves. Downey paced the Camels with five points on one goal and four assists. Howard added three goals, while Coughlin notched two goals and one assist. Bruce and Johnston both recorded two goals, as Panke added one marker.
Conn scooped up 44 ground balls, with Downey scooping up nine and Brooke McKenna (Ridgewood, N.J.) scoping up six. The Camels forced 12 turnovers, with three caused by McKenna and two by Eliza Ritter (Glen Head, N.Y.). Conn was 19-19 on clear attempts, while Panke and Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) both controlled two draws.
Ali Macdougall got the start for Trinity finishing with five saves. Lampert and Brooke Kurtz paced the Bantams as both notched three points.
Conn returns home on Saturday for senior day, as the Camels host Bates College at 12:00 p.m. on Silfen Field.
