PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A second-half comeback fell just short for the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team, falling to Jefferson, 13-12, in the regular season finale at Ravenhill Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Wildcats are now 12-5 overall and 7-2 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, locking up the No. 3 seed for the upcoming CACC Tournament. They will host No. 6 Bridgeport on Saturday in the CACC Tournament First Round at the WU Athletics Complex.
On Wednesday, the teams were knotted at 4-4 after the first quarter. But then the Rams outscored the Wildcats, 4-0, in the second quarter, taking an 8-4 lead into the halftime break. The Rams scored 35 seconds into the third quarter, taking their largest lead of the game, 9-4.
The Wildcats stormed back though, scoring five straight to end the third quarter and go into the final frame knotted at 9-9. Jefferson opened the fourth with back-to-back goals and led, 12-10, with 6:49 to play. The Wildcats scored back-to-back goals to tie the game, 12-12, but Jefferson answered with a free position shot with 1:35 to play.
Ella Royer scored three goals in the first quarter as the teams traded goals. Royer's third goal gave the Wildcats a 4-3 lead before the Rams tied things with 1:29 left in the quarter.
The Wildcats were outshot, 11-0, in the second quarter, committing nine turnovers as the Rams took an 8-4 lead into the break.
After the Rams went ahead, 9-5, the Wildcats turned things around. Eden Ward started the run with a goal before Tristan Holdsworth scored to make it 9-6 with 9:14 left. Ward scored again before Ella Royer scored back-to-back goals in 44 seconds to tie the game, 9-9.
Jefferson scored 30 seconds apart to take an 11-9 lead with 13:17 to play. Royer scored to get within 11-10, but the Rams answered with a goal with 6:49 to play to take a 12-10 lead. Michaella Cook scored with 3:52 to play and then the Wildcats secured the ensuing draw and Cook scored again to tie the game, 12-12, with 2:55 to play.
The Wildcats won the draw, but Royer missed a free position chance and Jefferson got the ball back. The Rams scored on their second free position attempt with 1:35 to play, retaking the lead. The Wildcats gained possession, but Mia Shultz' shot with 28 seconds left was wide and the clock ran out.
Ella Royer led the Wildcats with six goals and six draws while Tristan Holdsworth added two goals and two assists. Eden Ward scored two goals and added seven draws while Michaella Cook also scored two goals. Alea Javorowsky and Anastasia Giannoulis dished out two assists each. Allison Schiavone made three saves in the first half before Ashleigh Lawry made seven stops in the second half.