WEST HAVEN, Conn.- Emily Holland (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) scored the game tying goal with 30 seconds left to complete a four-goal comeback and force overtime, but the University of New Haven women's lacrosse team dropped a 21-20 decision to No. 9 LIU Post on Tuesday evening.
Mackenzie Reh (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) led the way with a team-high eight goals and one assist to finish the night with nine points. Holland and Kendra Nolan (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) both finished with a hat trick. Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) and Julia Jette (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) each finished with two goals, while Caroline Maher (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and Marina Skelly (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connequot) both tallied one goal. Jette added a career-high five assists to finish with seven points. Maher chipped in three assists, while Raven Linton (Lawrenceville, N.J./Notre Dame) had one.
Gianna Guerra (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) took on a tough Pioneers offense and did not back down. The junior goalkeeper finished with 12 saves, after facing 33 shots on goal. The Chargers edged the Pioneers in draw controls, 23-20. Nolan tied her career-high 14 draw controls for the second straight game. Linton finished the night with five, while Reh picked up three.
The Pioneers got on the board first to take an early 1-0 lead, but two minutes later Jette connected with Galler who found the back of the net to get the Chargers on the board. Holland tallied her first goal of the game less than a minute later to give the Chargers the lead. After a quick goal from the Pioneers, Reh kicked off a seven-goal run for the Chargers. In that time span, Reh completed her hat trick, while Maher, Nolan and Galler all scored. The Pioneers broke through the tough defense and put together a four-goal run of their own.
Nolan broke up the run with her second goal of the day to regain a four-goal lead. The scoring went back and forth for the remainder of the first half, as Jette scored on a pass from Linton.
LIU Post opened up the second half with three unanswered goals to tie the game at 11 all. Maher connected with Reh who notched her fifth goal of the game to break up the Pioneers' run. LIU Post would tie the game once more before Jette, Reh and Nolan all scored less than two minutes apart from each other to take a three-goal lead.
The Pioneers climbed back into the game and take the lead behind another four-goal run. Reh was able to score and tie the game at 16 apiece with just under 12 minutes left to play. The Pioneers strung together four more goals to take a comfortable lead with two minutes left in regulations.
The Chargers did not give up and fought hard to get back into the game. Reh converted a free position attempt to start the Chargers' run. After Linton won the draw control, Holland was able to score off of her free position attempt to get the Blue and Gold within two. Nolan won the draw control to regain possession. Reh connected with Skelly, who found the back of the net to make it a one goal game. Holland put home the tying goal off another free position attempt to make the game even at 20 with 30 seconds left in regulation.
The Pioneers won the draw control to open up the extra period and were able to capitalize on the first possession of overtime to close out the game.
The Chargers return to action and Northeast-10 Conference play when they head to North Easton, Mass. on Saturday, April 20 to take on Stonehill. Game time against the Skyhawks is set for 12:00pm.
