NEWARK, Del. - - A slow start loomed large for the 18th-ranked Wilmington University women's lacrosse team, suffering its first defeat of the year, 12-11, to 20th-ranked Dominican in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats' Ella Royer broke the NCAA Division II scoring record in the game, finding the back of the net for the 322nd time of her career. She also reached the 400-point milestone with her first goal of the day, becoming just the sixth student-athlete in NCAA DII to record 400 career points.
The Wildcats (9-1, 1-1 CACC) battled back in the second half, eventually tying the game, 10-10, and 11-11, but Dominican (6-3, 2-0 CACC) scored with 1:22 left to secure the victory. The Chargers got out to a 5-0 lead and led 10-4 with five minutes left in the third quarter.
The Chargers' Madelyn Grella scored three of the game's first five goals, as the visitors jumped up, 5-0 with 6:21 to play in the first. Kirra Crowley got the Wildcats on the board with 3:56 to play.
Ella Royer got her 400th career point on a free position shot to start the second quarter, but then Dominican answered with back-to-back goals to take a 7-2 lead.
The NCAA Division II record-breaking goal came with 5:58 to play in the second, as Royer buried another free position shot to make it 7-3. But again, the Chargers had an answer, scoring back-to-back goals to take a 9-3 lead. Anastasia Giannoulis converted a free position attempt with just three seconds left, sending the Wildcats in to the break down five.
The Chargers scored out of the gates in the second half as well, giving the visitors a 10-4 lead with 13:20 to play. The comeback started with a Kirra Crowley free position goal with 4:58 to play, as Giannoulis buried another with 2:08 to play, bringing the Wildcats to within 10-6 to start the fourth.
Michaella Cook scored a goal in transition to start the fourth quarter and then Crowley, Giannoulis, and Leah Rycroft all scored, tying the game, 10-10, with 6:16 to play. Dominican regained the lead with 5:10 to play, but Anastasia Giannoulis retied the game with another free position goal with 4:21 to play.
The Wildcats had possession and a chance to take the lead, but Charger goalkeeper Daniela Parisi made a save on the doorstep to keep it tied. The Chargers then took the clear and scored on their own free position attempt with 1:22 left. They won the ensuing draw and kept possession until a turnover with 30 seconds left. The Wildcats got it into the offensive zone but couldn't get a shot off as the horn sounded.
Anastasia Giannoulis led the Wildcats with four goals while Kirra Crowley scored three times with four draws, two caused turnovers, and two ground balls. Ella Royer scored the two goals while adding two draws and a caused turnover. Michaella Cook had a goal and an assist in the loss. Leah Rycroft had a goal and led with four caused turnovers and seven draws.
Alison Schiavone started in goal and had five saves in the first half while Ashleigh Lawry made three stops on six shots in the second half.
The Wildcats have one more game in the four-game homestand, as they welcome Jefferson to the WU Athletics Complex on Wednesday afternoon. The opening draw is set for 4:00 p.m.
