Recap courtesy of Sports Information Intern, Vin Rinella
SCRANTON, Pa. -- A five-goal run in the fourth quarter powered the University of Scranton women's lacrosse team (13-3) to a victory over #12 Stevens (12-3) by a final score of 10-9 at Weiss Field on Sunday afternoon.
Senior Kayleigh Stalter (Lynbrook, N.Y. / Lynbrook) scored the game-winning goal with 43 seconds left in the game, and the Royals held on to complete the comeback win. In addition to her game-winning goal, Stalter surpassed the 100 career point mark with her two goals and two assists in the victory.
Following Stalter's clutch goal, freshman Eileen Hewitt (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) secured the ensuing draw control from junior Catherine McGlynn (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) and the Royals were able to run out the remaining time on the clock to preserve the victory.
Junior Grace Lane (Long Beach, N.Y. / Sacred Heart Academy) got the scoring started just 55 seconds into the contest, giving the Royals a 1-0 advantage. The Ducks responded, however, going on a three-goal run to take a 3-1 lead. Shortly before the end of the quarter, senior Erin Reich (Rockville Centre, N.Y. / South Side) got the Royals within one with her first goal of the afternoon.
In the second quarter, Stevens scored their fourth goal of the game at the 10:46 mark and added another four minutes later, extending their lead to three goals. Down 5-2, Lane scored her second goal of the game with just under five minutes left in the quarter, and Hewitt added a goal herself, chipping away at the lead and bringing the Royals within one at 5-4 headed into halftime.
Scranton evened things at 5 apiece just two minutes into the third quarter as freshman Jillian Lopez (Sayville, N.Y. / St. Anthony's) found the back of the net for her first goal of the game. In response, though, the Ducks went on another three-goal run, taking an 8-5 lead into the fourth quarter.
Stevens then began the fourth quarter with a player-up goal, expanding their lead to four. One minute later, the Royals began their valiant comeback as Lopez and Reich each scored for the second time of the game, lowering the deficit to just two goals.
On the third straight free position attempt of the possession for the Royals, Stalter found the back of the net with her first goal of the game, bringing the hosts within one. With 4:35 to play, McGlynn won a crucial draw control  and fellow junior Molly McCarren (Suffern, N.Y. / Suffern) cashed in as the shot clock expired, bouncing one past Ducks' goalie Felicity Heilferty to tie the game at 9-9.
After a couple of huge defensive stops for the Royals, Hewitt picked up a ground to gain possession with 1:26 left to play in a tie game in the fourth quarter. Scranton's offense stayed patient, and with 43 seconds left in the game, Stalter delivered with her second goal of the game, opening a 10-9 edge.
Following a few passes from the Royals after the afore-mentioned draw control victory, junior Alex Dato (Oceanside, N.Y. / Oceanside) ran out the last 15 seconds of the game, securing the come-from-behind win for the Royals.
Offensively for Scranton, Reich and Lane both scored twice in the victory, while Lopez led the team with five ground balls and had two goals of her own. In goal, junior Lauren Boldis (Merrick, N.Y. / Sanford H. Calhoun) made four saves and earned the win.
The defensive unit for the Royals played one of their most impressive games of the season. Along with Boldis in goal, the tandem of Dato, senior Nicolina Mauro (South Hempstead, N.Y. / South Side), senior Grace Dabulas (Scotch Plains, N.J. / Westfield), and senior Karina Roettger (Brick, N.J. / Brick Memorial) combined for seven caused turnovers and held a Stevens' offense that averages over fifteen goals a game to just nine goals in the win.
The University of Scranton women's lacrosse team returns to action next Saturday against Moravian University, with action set to begin at 1:00 pm in Bethlehem, Pa.
--ROYALS--
