CHESTER, Pa. - The fourth-seeded Widener women's lacrosse team played hard against fifth-seeded Lebanon Valley, but the Dutchmen scored the go-ahead goal with 12 seconds left to earn a 12-11 win in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament play-in game Monday afternoon at Edith R. Dixon Field.
With the loss, the Pride finished the season with a 10-8 record and their third MAC Commonwealth Tournament appearance in four seasons.
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST LEBANON VALLEY
- Trailing, 11-8, with 10:43 left, the Pride scored three goals in the next five minutes to tie the game. Katie Ward scored off a pass from Annalee Doyle and Catherine Scott fired in two goals, including the tying goal off an assist from Jamie DeHaven with 5:12 left.
- However, LVC saw Sydney Zimmerman put in the game-winning goal to secure a spot in the conference semifinals, where the Pride were trying to reach for the second season in a row and for the third time in four years.
- Before LVC won it, Widener was in a back and forth battle with the Dutchmen, who they had topped, 14-4, just five days before Monday's contest. The Pride jumped out to a 3-1 lead with 12:23 left in the first quarter after getting two goals from Gab Cohen and one from Amber Bretz. But, LVC tied the game by scoring two goals in the next four minutes.
- In the second quarter, the Pride and the Dutchmen exchanged goals twice to make it a 5-5 game. However, LVC got a goal with 25 seconds left to take a 6-5 halftime lead. Ward and Cohen each scored in the period.
- In the third quarter, the Pride opened the half with three goals in the first 4:45, including two in the first 46 seconds, to take an 8-7 lead. Cohen, Ward and DeHaven each found the back of the net in the period. But, LVC received two more goals in the frame to take a 9-8 lead heading into the fourth.
- In the final period, LVC scored two more goals in the first four minutes before Widener made its late rally and set up the exciting finish.
- Cohen led the Pride with four goals to end with 39 goals for the season. The senior attack finished with 13 career hat tricks and 80 goals in her time with the Pride. Cohen also scored a point in 34 of her 36 career games.
- Defensively, Maddie Medve had eight saves in goal. Kaely Cristello led the team with five ground balls.
PERSPECTIVE
- The Pride's 11 seniors/graduate students — Bretz, Medve, Cohen, Gianna Crawford, Chelsea Forsyth, Brooke Graham, Grace Lindberger, Olivia McDonald, Maura Murray, Ceci Puente, and Melanie Shirk — finished with 28 wins over their four seasons. The Class of 2022 is one of only two classes to have earned three MAC tournament appearances in four years, joining the Class of 2003.
- Bretz finished an incredible senior season, leading the team in goals (44), points (56), shots (111), shots on goal (84), and draw controls (80). The senior from Scotch Plains, N.J. ended as Widener's all-time draw controls leader with 240.
- Medve ended her season as the current NCAA Division III leader in save percentage at .571. The senior goalie also posted the second-best goals against average for a career at 10.34, the third-best goals against average in a single season at 8.70, and the fourth-most saves for a career with 486.
