SCRANTON, Penn. - The Williams College women's lacrosse team used a huge fourth quarter to earn an impressive road win on Tuesday afternoon, topping #15 University of Scranton by a 12-10 score in the team's second game against ranked opposition in as many days. The Ephs scored the game's final five goals - including four in the last five minutes - to earn the victory.
Despite a hard-fought loss against #4 Salisbury University on Monday, the team showed no signs of fatigue against the Royals, who had previously beaten some of the top teams in the country. On Tuesday, the Ephs outscored Scranton 5-2 in the 4th quarter to come from behind and earn the big win.
Franny Donohue, the team's leading scorer on the season, again led the way with three goals and four assists. Ella Ryan, who scored twice on Monday, again set a new personal best, this time with three goals, and McKenna Dwyer, Allison Lee, and Katy McCullough all scored twice. Mia Kincade and Reece Willison also added assists, and Charlotte Cote made nine saves in goal.
The Royals scored the first two goals of the game, but the Ephs battled back - as they would throughout the game - to tie the game up with 2:57 left in the first. A player-up goal from Scranton with 44 seconds left gave Scranton the lead at the end of the period. The two teams traded goals throughout the second quarter and beyond, as the game was tied at 5-5 until Scranton scored twice in the third quarter. The Ephs did pull a goal back and at the end of three, Scranton was up 8-7.
With a narrow lead going into the fourth quarter, the Royals extended the advantage, scoring with a player advantage with 13:56 remaining, and again with 10:19 left to go up 10-7.
The Ephs then started their comeback. In a huge momentum swing, McCullough scored with 8:23 left despite the team being a player down after a green card infraction to make the game 10-8. Scranton's next two attacks resulted in shots that Cote saved, and with 4:43 left, Lee scored to make it a one-goal game. After Scranton took a time out, Ella Ryan came away with a huge turnover, picking up a ground ball and starting a clear for the Ephs, and then earned a free position shot which she converted to tie the game.
From there, the Ephs rode the momentum, with Willison controlling the draw and possessing before Ryan scored again to take the lead. Paige Nelson controlled the next draw and again Williams possessed and then Donohue scored to put the team up 12-10 with 15 seconds left. Scranton took another timeout but the final draw was controlled by Juliet Kilborn and the game ended in favor of the Ephs.
Williams will return home for a game this Saturday against Bates College on Farley-Lamb Field, set to start at 12 noon.
