WELLESLEY, Mass. -- April 12, 2008 --In a key NEWMAC matchup at Wellesley College this afternoon, the Springfield College women's lacrosse team defeated Wellesley, 13-12, in overtime. The game-winner was scored by Alex Bazzano with 2:59 left in the OT. The win lifts Springfield to 7-4 overall, 4-0 in NEWMAC competition. Wellesley drops to 7-4, 3-1 in conference play.

Springfield struck first, when Jennifer Zubkus (Dover, N.H..) found the back of the net at the 24:50 mark in the first half. Wellesley struck back quickly, as Haley Geller (Berkeley, Calif.) netted back-to-back goals to give the Blue a 2-1 lead with 23:38 remaining.

The teams remained scoreless until the 14:20 mark, when the Pride's Rachel Lampros (Boxborough, Mass.) tied the game at 2-2. Springfield then netted two more goals in quick succession, one each from Zubkus and Kaeleigh Lannan (Derry, N.H.) to take a 4-2 lead.

Geller cut the lead to 4-3 at the 8:24 mark. Springfield answered quickly with a goal from Alexandra Bazzano (Newington, Conn.) to give the Pride a 5-3 lead. But the Blue dominated the remainder of the period, with two goals from Briana Roberge (Bow, N.H.) and one from Colette Whitaker (Great Falls, Va.) to give the Blue a 6-5 halftime lead.

Five minutes into the second half, Whitaker scored her second goal of the game to give the Blue a 7-5 lead. Seconds later, Springfield's Lampros cut the lead to one, with an assist from Heather Dobson (Longmeadow, Mass.). Four minutes later, at the 20:26 mark, Lindsay Bugbee (Granby, Conn.) tied the game at 7-7.

Wellesley took the lead again with 16:18 remaining, on Geller's fourth goal of the game, but Zubkus answered for the Pride seconds later to tie the score once again. Springfield took a one-goal lead with just under 11 minutes to go, on a free position shot from Bazzano. Wellesley replied at the 10:27 mark, when Molly Morrow (Bow, N.H.) snagged a rebound and scored, tying the game at 9-9.

With eight minutes left, Zubkus used a crease roll to give the Pride the lead once again. But again the Blue bounced back, as Amber Evans found the back of the net a minute later to tie the score at 10. Morrow gave Wellesley the lead at the 6:00 mark, but Springfield responded with two more goals from Zubkus, to take a 12-10 lead with 1:46 on the clock. Wellesley answered with 38 seconds remaining, when Whitaker found the back of the net off an assist from Morrow to tie the game at 12.

In overtime, both teams tightened their defense, holding each other scoreless through the first three minutes. But Bazzano scored with 2:59 left, and the Pride held on for a 13-12 win.

Zubkus led Springfield with six goals. Bazzano added three goals, including the game-winner, along with five caused turnovers. Lampros tallied two goals and one assist. In net, Lauren McAulay (Yorktown, N.Y.) had nine saves in the win. For the Blue, Geller had six points on four goals and two assists. Morrow netted two goals and one assist. Defensively, Dee Garrahan (Fairfax Station, Va.) scooped up five ground balls, while goalie Kristin Jaronczyk (Manhasset, N.Y.) had 13 saves.

The Pride takes the field next on Wednesday, April 16, at 4:30 pm, when it hosts Plymouth State.

published: 04/12/2008