Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 18, 2009) -- A golden goal by sophomore attack Sarah Warner with 14 seconds remaining in the second overtime period propelled the Vassar women's lacrosse team to a thrilling and action packed 13-12 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in a pivotal Liberty League contest Saturday afternoon at Weinberg Field.

With the win, Vassar improves to 8-6, 3-4, and next faces SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday, April 23 prior to a huge contest against Rochester on Saturday, April 25. A victory in that game coupled with a loss by Skidmore against William Smith the previous evening, would clinch a playoff spot for the Brewers. RPI falls to 6-6, 3-4, and plays Rochester next on Friday, April 24. The Red Hawks are still in contention for a playoff spot.

The overtimes were both frenetic and exciting. Vassar controlled possession for a vast majority of both overtime periods. In the second overtime, sophomore Allie Morgan controlled the draw and a minute later saw her shot saved by RPI goaltender Ariana Hood. Hood also denied Warner before a missed shot by Morgan gave RPI possession with 40 seconds to play. But Hood was unable to get rid of the ball and turned it over, allowing senior Christine Eaccarino to find Warner for the game winner.

In the first overtime period, RPI erased a one-goal Vassar lead with a furious last-minute rally. Eaccarino put the Brewers ahead two minutes in, and Morgan nearly increased the lead by finishing a rebound with 3:13 to play, only to be called for stepping in the crease. RPI gained its only significant overtime period of possession with 2:17 to play, and despite freshman Emma Albert hitting the post, the Red Hawks recovered to tie the game through sophomore Afton Marshall's goal with 33 seconds remaining.

It was a crushing goal for the Brewers, but RPI wasn't finished, as sophomore Stephanie Caouette won the draw control and went straight in for what seemed like the winner, with only 20 seconds remaining on the clock. But junior Lindsay Magida won the draw control and when Morgan was awarded a free-position attempt with seven seconds remaining tallied the tying goal, making the game 12-12..

RPI seemed in control of the game when junior Sam Fennessey scored to take a 10-8 lead with less than five minutes to play in regulation. Vassar Sophomore Moe Byrne cut the lead to one with a breakaway goal, and Morgan finished the comeback with 1:17 to play. The Brewers survived a scare when RPI was awarded a free position attempt with 17 seconds left, but Caouette's effort was blocked and then controlled by Vassar goaltender Nicole Engelhardt.

Vassar took a 4-3 lead into the break, but suffered an unfortunate start to the second half by gifting RPI an own goal, after a Vassar defender attempted to intercept a pass and ended up pushing it past Engelhardt into the open net. Fennessee and Caouette opened up the two-goal lead, and while Vassar tied the game once more at 6-6. RPI controlled the rest of the period until the late Brewer comeback.

Senior Katama Martellucci, Byrne, junior Jen Richards, and Morgan scored in the first half for Vassar to give the Brewers their one-goal lead. Senior Emily Donowick scored RPI's first two goals of the game.

Both goaltenders performed well, with Engelhardt making 12 saves and Hood stopping 16. In an incredibly tight game, each side had 30 ground balls and 21 turnovers, and RPI out-shot the Brewers by one, 35-34. 

Morgan scored 4 goals for the Brewers, with Byrne, Warner, and Martellucci each scoring twice. Fennessey and Donowick led RPI with three goals apiece, with Caouette and Marshall tallying twice for the RedHawks.

It was a successful Senior Day for Vassar's six graduating players: Eaccarino, Martellucci, Jessie Albert, Ashley Rey, Katie Reynolds, and Sasha Klimczak.