NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team's fourth quarter comeback came up short, as the Camels fell to No. 15 Trinity 10-8 on Wednesday evening from Silfen Field. With the loss, Conn falls to 6-5 overall and 1-5 in NESCAC play, while Trinity improves to 6-3 on the year and 3-2 in conference action.
The opening quarter was a defensive battle as the teams combined for just three goals in the opening 15 minutes. Trinity opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the contest off a tally from Kaeley Zito. The Bantams doubled the lead with nine and a half to play, before Conn got on the board 30 seconds later. Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) forced a turnover at midfield, before feeding the ball up to Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.); Coughlin connected with Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.) who fired home to make it 2-1. Both defenses held firm as Trinity led 2-1 after one.
The Bantams opened the second quarter with back-to-back strikes to push the lead to 4-1 at 11:51. However, the Camels answered with two straight goals themselves, as Emma Ognibene (New Canaan, Conn.) converted a free-position, before Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) made it a one goal game at 8:36.
With 6:48 to play, Trinity pushed the lead back to two off a goal from Kelsey Restivo, but once again Conn answered. With the Camels playing a woman-down, Coughlin was able to fire home at 4:22 to make it 5-4. Conn tried to even the score as the half wound down, but the Camels trailed 5-4 at the break.
Restivo extended the lead to 6-4 with an early marker in the third quarter, before Sydeny Aitkenhead made it 7-4 at 11:25. Conn had a chance to respond, earning back-to-back woman-up opportunities, but the Camels were unable to capitalize on either chance. Trinity added two goals over the rest of the frame to take a 9-4 lead into the fourth.
Conn opened the final quarter strong, as Coughlin got the Camels going with an early strike to cut the deficit to 9-5. However, a free-position goal from the Bantams at 12:37 pushed the lead back to five. Conn did not go away quietly. Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) controlled the ensuing draw, working her way through three defenders, before firing a shot home as she was falling to make it 10-6.
Weber's goal provided a spark for Conn as just over two minutes later, Johnston fed Downey in front of the cage, who fired home to make it 10-7. Johnston then converted a free-position shot to cut the deficit to 10-8 with 5:38 to play. Conn had a couple of chances over the final five minutes to cut into the lead even more, but were unable to, falling 10-8.
Conn outshot Trinity 29-27, while Trinity held a slim 12-10 edge on draw controls.
Ava Virga continued her strong play in net, finishing with 10 saves. Coughlin and Johnston paced Conn with three points on two goals and one assist each. Four other Camels tallied one goal, as Downey, Ognibene, Panke, and Weber each found the back of the net.
Defensively, Downey led the way forcing four turnovers, while four other Camels all caused one. Virga scooped up a team-high five ground balls, with both Downey and Casey Chesner (Great Falls, Va.) scooping up three each. Weber controlled four draws, while Downey added three.
Olivia Aguirre got the start in goal, recording seven saves in the first half, before being replaced by Ali Macdougall who made two saves in the second half. Restivo led Trinity in scoring with five points on three goals and two assists, while three other Bantams recorded multiple points.
Conn heads back out on the road on Saturday, as the Camels travel north to take on Bates at 12:00 p.m. in Lewiston, Maine.
