Women's Lacrosse Falls to Mount Holyoke in Overtime, 12-11

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior midfielder Hilary Bombard (Northampton, Mass.) scored with 3:09 remaining in overtime to lift visiting Mount Holyoke College to a 12-11 victory over Bridgewater State University in non-conference women's lacrosse action on Thursday evening at Swenson Field.

Mount Holyoke improves to 6-7 on the season as the Lyons snapped a four-game losing streak.  Bridgewater slips to 7-7 overall as the Bears' saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

The game was tight throughout with neither team leading by more than two goals.  Mount Holyoke held a 6-5 advantage at the intermission, but trailed 10-9 with under ten minutes remaining in the second half after BSU freshman attack Riley Cachelin (Westwood, Mass.) scored to put the Bears ahead at the 10:04 mark.

Bombard tied the contest on an unassisted tally with 8:34 left to play, but Bridgewater sophomore midfielder Taylor Clancy (Braintree, Mass.) responded a minute and 28 seconds later to reclaim the lead for the hosts.

Junior attack Molly Macdonald (Milton, Mass.) notched the equalizer for the Lyons with 6:05 on the clock.  Mount Holyoke had two golden opportunities to take the lead in the final five minutes on free position attempts, but the first was blocked and the second was stopped by BSU sophomore netminder Victoria Moore (Duxbury, Mass.).

Bombard's overtime strike was the only shot taken in the extra session and it came just 15 seconds after Bridgewater was issued its only card of the game to give the Lyons a man-advantage.

Junior goaltender Jamie Theophilos (Hinsdale, Ill.) was between the pipes for the first 30 minutes for the Lyons and turned aside one shot. Classmate Liz Malenfant (Nantucket, Mass.) played the final 36 minutes to pick up the win although she did not make a save.

Moore registered three saves in the loss for the Bears.

Bombard paced the visitors with a game-high four goals to go along with three controlled draws and four ground balls. Macdonald finished with three goals, while senior attack Alex Crean (West Hartford, Conn.) tallied a pair of goals and an assist.  Freshman midfielder Kirsten Kilburn (North Branford, Conn.) added two goals and a team-best five draws.

Clancy had a terrific all-around game to lead the way for Bridgewater State as she notched three goals and two assists as well as three ground balls, two caused turnovers and a game-high eight draws.

Junior attack Sammi Salverio (Hanson, Mass.) chipped in with three markers, while junior midfielder Michelle Navoni (Mansfield, Mass.) registered a pair.  Junior Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) anchored the Bears' defensive unit with two caused turnovers and four draws while also adding a goal.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater hosts New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) rival Westfield State on Saturday afternoon at one in a key conference matchup.  Mount Holyoke travels to Springfield College also on Saturday for a noontime New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game with the Pride.