BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Daemen University women's lacrosse team made history as junior midfielder
Ella Bouley (Auburn, N.Y.) scored 54 seconds into overtime to punch the Wildcats ticket to the East Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship for the first time in program history with a 13-12 overtime victory over D'Youville in ECC women's lacrosse action Wednesday evening at Dobson Field.
With the win, the Wildcats improved to 5-9 and 3-3 in ECC play while the Saints dropped to 4-9 and 1-4 in conference action.
Junior attacker Avery Caster (Penn Yan, N.Y.) led Daemen with four goals and five total points. Senior midfielder
Cameron Briggs (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Bouley helped pace the Daemen offense with four and three points respectively. On defense, senior midfielder
Katelynn Deveans (Clinton, N.Y.) secured a team-high three caused turnovers and was tied with Briggs for the team-high in draw controls with five each. In net, freshman
Molly Evans (Fulton, N.Y.) made nine saves to aid the Wildcats winning efforts.
Madison Handley led D'Youville with five goals while Jillian Bernas notched five points with three goals and two assists. Lauren Parker collected a game-high six draw controls while in net, Brinn Stworzydlak made nine saves and grabbed four ground balls.
Down 12-11 with less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Castner found an opening of space and fired the ball into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the game and tied the contest, 12-12, with 1:40 left in regulation. Neither team was able to score with the remaining time in regulation, sending the game to overtime
In the extra frame, Deveans collected the opening draw control and was able to bring the ball downfield for Daemen. Moments later, Calandra found Bouley in front of the net where she fired the ball into the back of the net to send Daemen to the postseason for the first time in program history.
Earlier in the contest, the Wildcats were down 8-3 with 5:48 remaining in the first half. Daemen found a spark as a pair of Briggs goals in the final five minutes brought the 'Cats to within three, 8-5, at the end of the first half.
The Daemen offense continued to roll in the second half as a goal from Castner just 37 seconds into the third quarter uncorked a 4-0 scoring run for the 'Cats which let them take their first lead of the game, 9-8, with 7:41 to play. During the run to begin the second half, Castner accounted for three of the Wildcats four goals.
Still, the host Saints had an answer as they scored four of the next six goals spanning the end of the third quarter and most of the fourth quarter to hold a slim 11-10 lead, inadvertenly setting the stage for the Wildcats overtime win.
Daemen ended the day with a 29-25 edge in shots and slim 15-14 advantage in draw controls. Each side was tied in ground balls with 19.
GAME NOTES
• Today marked the third all-time meeting between the two longtime crosstown rivals in women's lacrosse. It was the 'Cats first win against the Saints as well in program history.
• With her five draw controls today, Deveans eclipsed 200 for her career spanning her time at Daemen and Medaille.
• Today marked the first overtime win in program history.
• Castner scored three-or-more goals for the third time this season and first time since March 22 at St. Thomas Aquinas
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will wrap up their regular season against No. 24 Dominican (N.Y.) on April 27. Opening draw from Orangeburg, N.Y., is set for 11 a.m.
Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter,
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