WEST HAVEN, Conn.- Down by four with five minutes left in regulation, Mackenzie Reh (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) scored three unanswered goals and Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) scored to tie the game and force overtime, but No. 16 University of New Haven women's lacrosse came up short against No. 20 Bentley, 14-13 on Wednesday evening.
Prior to opening draw, the Chargers honored their five seniors, Mackenzie Reh (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford), Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield), Marie Cox (Hamden, Conn./Hamden), Kayla Pjatak (Shelton, Conn./Shelton), and Madison Unterstein (Ellington, Conn./Ellington).
Reh and Julia Jette (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) both scored a team-high four goals and each added an assist to finish with five points apiece. Nolan and Maher both scored twice and Galler rounded out the scoring with one goal. Maher chipped in a team-best three assists, also finishing with five points. Nolan and Reh both had four draw controls, while Raven Linton (Lawrenceville, N.J./Notre Dame) finished with three and Alyssa Bourque (Goffstown, N.H./Goffstown) had one.
In goal, Gianna Guerra (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) had 13 saves on the night, including a lunging save with four seconds left to keep the game tied and forcing the extra time. Defensively, New Haven had eight caused turnovers. Cox, Marina Skelly (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connequot), and Linton all had two, while Zoe Wilkins (Plainfield, N.J./Mount Saint Mary Academy) and Hailey Lyne (Agawam, Mass./Agawam) both finished the night with one.
Bentley got on the board first in the fourth minute, but Reh quickly countered, scoring on a free position attempt. The Falcons would retake the lead, but less than two minutes later, Maher drove around the back of the net to score her first of the game to tie it at two apiece. The Falcons were able to string together three unanswered goals before Nolan broke through on a pass from Reh. After another two goals from Bentley, Jette connected with Nolan who notched her second goal of the game. Just over a minute later, Maher teamed up with Jette who scored her first of the game, to get the Chargers within two.
After another goal from the Falcons, Maher used her free position attempt to quickly pass to Jette who hammered home her second goal of the game. Bentley scored twice more to take a four-goal advantage for its largest lead of the game going into the halftime break.
Bentley was able to score first in the second half of play, increasing its lead to five. Maher broke through the tight Bentley defense to send home her second of the day. Jette scored back-to-back goals to get the Chargers within three once more.
After two quick goals from Bentley, the defense took control and did not allow another goal for the remainder of the second half. With just over five minutes left to play, Reh scored on another free position attempt to kick off a run for the Chargers. Reh would score two more goals to get the Chargers within one. With just over a minute left to play, Maher connected with Galler who scored the game tying goal to force overtime. Bentley won the draw control and capitalized on the possession to win the game in sudden death overtime.
New Haven returns to action on Saturday, April 27 to close out the regular season with a trip to Manchester, NH to take on Saint Anselm. Opening draw at Grappone Stadium is set for 12:00 pm.
