BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Framingham State University women's lacrosse team rallied for a dramatic 11-10 double overtime victory over Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup on Thursday night at chilly Swenson Field.
The Rams remain unbeaten as they improve to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in the MASCAC. The host Bears fall to 0-3 (0-2 MASCAC) with their second straight overtime setback. Framingham State has won each of the last four meetings of the two teams, while Bridgewater State holds a 9-4 lead in the all-time series.
Senior midfielder Hannah McMahon (Watertown, Mass.) provided the overtime heroics for Framingham State as she potted an unassisted tally 2:16 into the second OT session.
Bridgewater State led 8-5 at the break and held a 9-6 edge after the two teams exchanged goals within the first four minutes of the second half. The score remained that way until the Rams roared back with less than six minutes remaining in regulation.
Freshman midfielder Rachel Erickson (Dunstable, Mass.) converted a nice feed from McMahon with 5:08 showing on the scoreboard, and McMahon pulled the visitors to within one, 9-8, just 35 second later off an assist from freshman attack Hannah Guerin (Cumberland, R.I.). Senior attack Alissa Marino (Trumbull, Conn.) knotted the game at 9-9 with an unassisted player-advantage strike at the 2:34 mark.
BSU junior midfielder Hayley Carron (Hopedale, Mass.) put the Bears back on top, 10-9, with a free position goal just 32 seconds later. Framingham State won the ensuing draw and Erickson buried a free position attempt with only 42 seconds left in regulation. The Bears had two shot attempts to close out the second half, including one on the free position, but were unable to convert as the game headed to overtime.
Both keepers came up with key saves in the first six-minute overtime session. The Bears won the draw to open the second OT period, but their lone shot attempt was blocked. That would set the stage for McMahon's game-winning tally.
McMahon paced Framingham State with three goals and two assists to go along with a game-high six draw controls. Erickson, Guerin, Marino and junior attack Tara Palermo (Mashpee, Mass.) added two goals apiece for the Rams with Guerin also collecting an assist.
Junior attack Katherine Tracy (Marion, Mass.) notched three goals and an assist to lead the way for Bridgewater State. Senior midfielder Emily Hiller (Marion, Mass.) checked in with two goals, two assists and a team-best three draw controls, while Carron tallied two goals and a helper.
The Bears forced 14 turnovers in the contest with senior midfielder Kelsi Brennan (Dedham, Mass.) leading the way with three caused turnovers.
The Rams finished with a 33-24 shot advantage as well as a 16-9 edge in draw controls. The two teams combined to go just 3-for-14 on free position attempts.
Framingham went 14-for-19 on clear attempts and Bridgewater finished 16-for-21.
Sophomore goalkeeper Alexis Burleigh (Vernon, Conn.) played the first half between the pipes for the Rams and made two saves. Rookie netminder Hannah Allen (Franklin, Mass.) came on in relief to start the second half and stopped five of the seven shots she faced to earn her third win of the season.
BSU sophomore Olivia Kerrigan (Braintree, Mass.) turned aside nine shots in goal for the Bears.
Three of Bridgewater State's eight goals in the opening stanza came on the player-advantage. The Bears trailed 5-3 in the first half before closing out the period with five unanswered goals including a pair of player-advantage strikes by Tracy and a goal apiece from Hiller, freshman attack Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) and junior midfielder Lindsay Brown (East Longmeadow, Mass.). Herrington's goal late in the first half marked the first of her collegiate career. Brown, who closed out the first-half scoring, lit the lamp for the first time this season.
Up Next: The two teams will meet up again on Saturday (Apr. 3) evening at six in a non-conference tilt at Framingham State.