Lady Warriors' Big Lead Fades Against Drew
Wallenhorst Scores 100th in Loss to Rangers
Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. --- The driving rain, whipping wind, and cold temperatures could not slice through the playoff intensity at the Shangraw Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon as the Lycoming women’s lacrosse team battled with Drew University in a match whose outcome would shape the postseason tournament seedings.  The Lady Warriors seemed in control through the opening minutes of the second half, but a four-goal lead disappeared by the final whistle as the Rangers came back for a 12-11 victory with a little last second magic.

The loss drops Lycoming to 11-3 overall, 7-2 in Middle Atlantic Conference play.  Drew improves to 10-5, 7-1.  Barring any upsets or unforeseen outcomes through the squads’ final games of the season, Lycoming will assume the third seed in the upcoming league tournament while Drew will occupy the second spot and enjoy a first round bye.

Play starting going south for Lycoming with 22:53 left to play in the second half.  After churning out a trio of goals for a 9-5 lead before three minutes had run out since halftime, Drew put together a four-goal run to tie the score with 10:28 on the clock.

Sophomore Megan Wallenhorst (Rochester, N.Y./Irondequoit), having scored her 100^th career goal earlier in the contest, stopped the bleeding and regained the Lady Warriors’ advantage off an assist from freshman Sarah Wingerden (Macedon, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) with 8:13 to play.  Drew evened the score at 10-10 a little more than a minute later on Courtney Cunningham’s fourth tally of the match.

Wingerden capped her outstanding game with her fourth score on a free position shot with 1:50 to play for an 11-10 blue and gold edge.

The Rangers stole the hearts of the Lady Warriors’ and their faithful, weather-scoffing fan base with a pair of scores in the final 30 seconds.  Kaity Ryan, who scored five times throughout the contest, tied the game with 0:29 to play.  She struck again just 18 seconds later, fitting a tough slim-angled shot inside the front post to secure Drew’s comeback victory.

Wingerden led all Lycoming scorers with four goals and an assist followed by three goals and one helper from Wallenhorst to give her 61 scores and 65 total points on the season.  Sophomore Heather Suit (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) added a goal and two assists while freshman Kelly Mack (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) recorded one of each.  Junior Cassie Mocyk (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Charles W. Baker) chipped in a nice left-handed tally and freshman Kelli Morsey (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) notched her 13^th score of the year.

The momentum shifted hands between the squads in the first half as well.  Wingerden sandwiched a Ranger goal with her first two of the game to give Lycoming a 2-1 lead with 4:15 off the clock.   After Drew tied the score, Lycoming went on a three-goal spurt with Suit, Wingerden, and Wallenhorst giving Lycoming a 5-2 advantage at the 15:11 mark.

The Rangers responded with two Cunningham goals to pull within 5-4, but Mocyk added her off-handed tally to push Lycoming back out to a two-goal edge at 6-4 with 7:13 to play.  Laurie Anthony pulled Drew within one at the 0:46 mark to send the Lady Warriors to the intermission up 6-5.

Lycoming looks to close out its impressive regular season in winning fashion next Saturday, April 29, as the Lady Warriors welcome Wilkes University to Williamsport.  Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. at that Shangraw Athletic Complex.