CHESTER, Pa. – Katie Ward scored 57 seconds into overtime as the Widener University women's lacrosse team advanced to the MAC Commonwealth Championship semifinals with a thrilling 11-10 victory against the Albright Lions on Tuesday night.
 
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

• The win is Widener's third postseason victory and the first ever on its home turf. It is also the second consecutive postseason WU downed Albright in its opening playoff game.
• It is the first win ever for the Pride at home against the Lions in six tries.
• With the victory, Widener is 7-5 and is guaranteed a winning record in back-to-back seasons for just the seventh time in program history.

 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Ward and Amber Bretz led the Blue and Gold with three goals apiece. Bretz also led Widener with six draw controls. Ward topped the team with four ground balls.
• Alexis Colella posted a goal and two assists. Catherine Scott and Amelia Alminde each had a goal and an assist.
• Gab Cohen and Caroline Kelley found the back of the net once. Kelley was also key in possession, winning four draw controls, including three of the last five overall in regulation.
• Kaely Cristello continues to take the ball away from opponents, recording three caused turnovers. She now has 11 CT in her last three games.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Albright got the early jump in the game, going up 2-0 at the 26:46 mark and held that lead until Ward got Widener in the scoring column at 12:19.
• From that point, the Blue and Gold went on a tear, ending the first half on a 5-1 run. WU carried the momentum into the second stanza, as a pair of tallies by Bretz in the first three minutes of the new half pushed the Pride lead to 7-3.
• The visitors got their comeback started in earnest with a player-up goal at 26:30. That began a 5-1 run that saw Albright tie the game at 8-8 with 12:16 to go.
• Despite the tie, Widener made sure Albright never went in front as goals by Scott and Colella, the latter coming with just three minutes remaining, kept the Pride in front or tied. The Lions had one last chance and didn't waste it, scoring with 20 seconds left to force overtime.
• In the extra session, Widener won the draw and worked the ball behind the net to Alminde. Ward took her feed, deked once, and dropped the ball in over the reach of the goalkeeper.

 
NOTES AND QUOTES

• "I'm extremely proud of how the team played the game, especially in OT. We know how talented Albright is and how close the games are with them. We did a great job of following the game plan and executing tonight. I'm so proud of what they accomplished tonight and so far this season." – Kate Iorfino, Head Coach 
• "This is something more than we could expect. We wanted the seniors to keep this ride going. We worked everything we had every single day and every single practice and we really wanted this." – Katie Ward, Sophomore Attack

 
UP NEXT
Widener advances to the MAC Commonwealth semifinals to face No. 13 York (Pa.) on Thursday, April 29. Opening draw from Kinsey Field in York is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.