SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Widener University women's lacrosse team battled back from a three-goal deficit in the final 15 minutes, but a late Swarthmore tally allowed the Garnet to escape with a 9-8 win against the Pride on Saturday afternoon.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Caroline Kelley led the offense with her second straight hat trick. She also grabbed a draw control.
• Gab Cohen found the back of the net twice.
• Melanie Bert, Amber Bretz, and Emma DiGilio each scored once. Bretz added an assist and won five draws.
• Maddie Medve made 18 save in cage.
• The eight goals by the Pride are its most against Swarthmore since 2016. The nine goals allowed are the fewest surrendered since a 6-4 win versus the Garnet on April 3, 2003.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Widener found itself down 3-0 in the first 15 minutes of the game before Bert got the Pride on the board. The Garnet built back a 5-2 lead, but the Blue and Gold scored twice in a 57 second span as DiGilio and Bretz found the back of the net, the latter goal coming at the 2:56 mark, pulling things to 5-4 at halftime.
 
Swarthmore extended its advantage, posting three of the first four goals of the second half. Midway through the period, Cohen tallied her first goal of the day. Still trailing 8-6, Kelley scored shorthanded with 6:09 left. The Pride came all the way back when Cohen netted her second of the afternoon at the 4:32 mark. Swarthmore had the final tally, however, scoring with just more than three minutes left.
 
UP NEXT
Widener travels to Tennessee for a pair of games during spring break, starting with a Tuesday afternoon contest in Nashville against Bridgewater (Va.). Opening draw is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.