Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – Now in its 20th season, the Eastern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse program was competing in its 236th intercollegiate match Saturday. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is embarking upon its maiden season. Facts, however, which did not stop the Bears from coming within a whisker of posting their first victory in their first contest.
Coast Guard came back from a three goal deficit in the second half twice to tie the game but was unable to complete the comeback as it fell in double overtime, 9-8, Saturday afternoon.
The first three-minute overtime went scoreless but Eastern found the game-winner in the second overtime as freshman two-sport athlete Maggie Bodington (Stratford) forced a turnover, collected the ball, and fired a shot past freshman goalie Angel Fay for the eventual game-winner.
Bodington won the ensuing draw and Eastern was able to run out the clock for its first victory after an opening loss.
Bodington paced the Warriors with the first three goals of her career, while senior captain Meg Eremita (South Windsor) had one goal and two assists and junior Tess Mraz (Fairfield) two goals. First-year sophomore transfer Bianca Jacques (Berlin), and returning sophomores Paige Schneider (East Lyme), and Amanda Will (Wantagh, NY) had a goal apiece.
Sophomore Niki Kruger led all scorers with four goals for the Bears. Senior Tori Borges added two goals and an assist of her own. Sophomore Sierra Webb and senior Ruby Surgent each had goals of their own while senior Holly Moore dished out one assist.
The game started off well for Eastern as Bodington took a pass from Eremita and snuck a shot past Fay just over a minute into the game for her first career goal. The Warriors never trailed in the contest.
The Warriors took a two-goal lead into the half as Mraz had her first goal of the game -- assisted by Eremita -- and Bodington fired a shot past Fay for her second goal of the game giving Eastern a 6-4 lead.
Eremita again put the Warriors on the board first in the second half with her lone goal of the game, giving Eastern its largest lead of the game, 7-4, six minutes into the second half.
Coast Guard, however, scored four of the final five goals of the game -- coupled with eight saves by Fay -- to force overtime. Eastern led by three late in the game but two goals by Kruger and a goal by Surgent forced overtime.
Eastern sophomore goalie Taylor Emmerson (Colchester) made seven saves for her fourth career win. Fay made 13 saves in her collegiate debut.
Eastern is scheduled to host Roger Williams University Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
