ROCK HILL, SC – Shannon Gallagher scored with 14 seconds left in regulation and Jenna Kasmarik netted the game-winner in overtime as the Winthrop lacrosse team pulled out a hard-fought 11-10 victory Sunday afternoon over the Michigan Wolverines.
Winthrop (3-1) trailed 10-9 with under a minute to go when Gallagher drew a foul inside the eight-meter, setting up a free-position attempt. She buried the ensuing shot to tie the game at 10-10. The Eagles had an opportunity to win the game after corralling the draw, but Kasmarik's initial shot was saved and after scooping up a ground ball, Abigail Blevins' shot was high as the horn sounded.
Both teams had chances early in overtime but both goalies continued to come up big in net. After the teams switched ends midway through overtime, Michigan got the ensuing draw but turned the ball over 30 seconds later. Winthrop then maintained possession and Kasmarik drew a foul inside the eight-meter with 1:11 remaining. She put her free-position attempt past the Michigan goalie to put the Eagles up 11-10. The Wolverines could not maintain possession to get another opportunity as the Eagles pulled out the victory.
Winthrop got off to a strong start, netting three goals in the first 4:12 of the opening half. Freshman Kristen Shriver assisted junior Shannon Gallagher and senior Jenna Kasmarik on the first two while junior Abigail Blevins grabbed the third on an assist from freshman Katie Clark.
Michigan (0-2) pulled two goals back to get within 3-2 with 22:04 remaining. Winthrop responded with three straight goals of its own from Kasmarik, Danielle Ellis and Abigail Blevins to take a 6-2 lead with 13:10 remaining on the clock. The Eagles, however, then went scoreless the remainder of the half. The Wolverines scored the final three goals of the half to send the game into halftime at 6-5 Winthrop.
The Wolverines grabbed the first goal of the second half to tie the game at 6-6. Junior Logan McCarthy put the Eagles back ahead on a free-position attempt with 19:54 on the clock and Katie Clark scored a man-up goal just over a minute later to give Winthrop a two-goal cushion.
The teams then went back and forth with Michigan tying the game at 8-8 with 5:16 remaining. Kasmarik scored her third of the game with 3:42 to give the Eagles a 9-8 edge. The Wolverines scored with 2:33 and 1:01 remaining to go up 10-9, setting up the exciting finish.
Kasmarik finished with four goals on 10 shots and went 1-for-2 on free-position attempts. Gallagher and Abigail Blevins each netted two goals while Blevins also added one assist. Junior Hayley Krause led the Eagles with seven draw controls while freshman Katherine Judge was again strong on loose balls, grabbing four draw controls and three ground balls.
Freshman goalie Alaina Girani had another strong outing in goal for the Eagles, finishing with 13 saves to earn her third victory of the season.
Winthrop will take the next week off before hosting St. Francis on Sunday, March 1 at 1 p.m. at Eagle Field.
