Wright's Goal at the Buzzer Sees Women's Lacrosse Win Battle of GNAC's Top Teams, 14-13

BOSTON – In a battle between the two top teams in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), the Emmanuel College women's lacrosse team (10-4, 8-0 GNAC) outlasted Johnson & Wales (8-4, 6-1 GNAC) to remain unbeaten in conference play with a 14-13 victory. It was Madeline Wright (Mattapoisett, Mass.) who found the back of the net as time expired to secure the massive win on Saturday afternoon at Clemente Field.

After the Wildcats' Izzy Babb (Windham, Maine) leveled the game at 13 with 40 seconds remaining, Emmanuel's Avery Robillard (Rowley, Mass.) stepped up to win the crucial draw control for final possession of regulation. With just three seconds left on the clock, Deanna Bourque (Loudon, N.H.) drew a free position, opening the door for a dramatic finish. Borque found a cutting Madeline Wright across the middle who fired a shot just before the horn sounded, finding the back of the net for the significant win.

The Saints found themselves trailing 4-1 midway through the first quarter but were able to erase the deficit through a Livia Fedele (Spencerport, N.Y.) goal early in the second period that tied the game at five. The Wildcats responded with Babb scoring the final two goals of the half to give the visitors a 7-5 advantage at the break. Johnson & Wales maintained their advantage throughout the third, taking a 10-8 edge into the final 15 minutes of play.

The Wildcats, once again, extended their lead to three through a Katie Sloan (Ellicott City, Md.) free position shot with 13:21 left the play. Emmanuel refused to back down, claiming the next four goals and taking the lead through Borque with just under three minutes remaining. The Wildcats leveled the game at 12, but Fedele would score with 1:30 left to give the home side an advantage.

After a blocked free position shot, the Saints re-gained possession and only needed to eat up the remaining minute to secure the win. A turnover in the Saints defensive end led to Babb's game-tying goal with 40 seconds remaining. Emmanuel refused to be denied a victory with Wright's game-winner securing the triumph.

Madeline Gould (Oakdale, Conn.) and Izzy Babb both led the Wildcats, tallying four goals and an assist each. Goalkeeper Emma Glyman (Tolland, Conn.) tallied a season-high 15 saves in the loss. The Saints' attack was led by Wright who finished with five goals while Ella Marschitz (Naperville, Ill.), Livia Fedele, and Avery Robillard each added two goals in the win.

Up next, Johnson & Wales will travel to New Haven, Conn. for a GNAC matchup with Albertus Magnus on Tuesday (4/16) at 4:00 P.M. The Saints will make a visit to Mitchell College for a GNAC contest on Tuesday, also slated for a 4:00 P.M. start.