FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College women's lacrosse team celebrated senior day by honoring their five seniors on Saturday afternoon against the Pride of Widener University but fell in the contest with a score of 14-11.
Seniors Celebrated;
Inside the Box Score
Maggie Merrill (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) netted five goals and won three draw controls .
Gregory scored three times and won five draw controls in the game.
Tayton Barrett (Georgia, Vt./Rice Memorial) made 11 saves in the contest.
How it Happened
Neither of the offenses' found a rhythm to start the contest as both goalies stood tall in net for their respective teams and made pivotal saves to keep the game tied.
A breakthrough happened after
Maggie Merrill (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) with around five minutes remaining got the scoring started with a goal. Merrill wouldn't stop there, and teammate
Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) sensed this which led to Gregory assisting another Merrill goal and gave the Blazers a 2-0 lead.
It finally looked like Hood was settling into their offense, but Widener responded with a goal of their own.
Hood earned a free position shot attempt, and
Emma Massey (Felton, Del./Lake Forest) took full advantage as she ripped the ball and netted her first goal of the contest to give the squad a 3-1 lead.
35 seconds remained in the first quarter of play, and Widener had a man up opportunity which allowed them to net another goal.
It appeared that the game was going to be more of a defensive battle between the teams, but as the first quarter came to a close, the offense shined, and Hood led 3-2.
Early into the second, the Blazers earned another free shot attempt, this time it was
Rachel Harper (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge), and the result replicated teammate Massey's free position shot attempt as Harper struck gold and netted another for the Blazers.
Merrill was on fire for the Blazers and fired a shot to net her third goal of the game and earn the hat trick in the first half of play.
Widener needed answers and found them in Gianna Scaliti who scored for the Pride. Scaliti tested goalkeeper
Tayton Barrett (Georgia, Vt./Rice Memorial) again, but this time was denied, as the first year showed poise and confidence in goal for the Blazers.
The Pride stayed aggressive and netted a goal to make the score 5-4, still in favor of the Blazers.
Neither team was able to score before the first half came to end, and at the break the Blazers had a slight 5-4 lead and looked to extend their lead into the second half.
As the third quarter began, it was clear that the Pride was going to be aggressive, as they netted six unanswered goals and led 10-5 midway through the third.
Maggie Merrill (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) stopped the bleeding for the team with yet another goal. Over a minute remained in the third quarter and
Menna Salem (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) found
Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) who cut into the Pride's lead which now sat at just three. Headed into the fourth, the Blazers were down 10-7, but despite the deficit they were determined to give their Seniors a win on their day.
To start the fourth, Widener was focused on playing spoiler for Hood seniors, and with an early goal into the fourth, it appeared so, as the Pride was now up 11-7.
Gregory and Merrill willed the team's offense with two more goals, as Widener only led now by two.
Widener added three more goals, as it seemed that the Pride were shutting the door on a Blazers comeback, with a score now at 14 to 9, and just over five minutes remained in regulation.
Hood showed signs of life after a Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) and Mia Treney (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) goals, but Widener wisely ran the clock all the way down as the Blazers ran out of time and ended with a 14-11 loss.
For the Opponent
A trio of players for the Pride netted three goals.
Alyssa Ruggiero won five draw controls and picked dup five ground balls.
Analysis
Hood was outshot 36-22 and lost the ground ball battle 17-11.
The Blazers were slightly edged by the Pride in draw controls won 16-12.
Notes
Hood falls to 6-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Widener improves to 9-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
Up Next
The women's lacrosse team will travel to battle the Spartans of York College (Pa.) on Wednesday, April 22 at 6 PM.
