Women's Lacrosse Drops Overtime Heartbreaker To UMass, 9-8

AMHERST, Mass. - The University at Albany had well-rounded offensive attack, having tallied five players with at least one goal but came up short in overtime to UMass, 9-8, on Saturday, Mar. 8 at McGuirk Stadium. The Minutewomen's Sam Rush put the nail in the coffin with the final goal in the last second of the overtime. The Great Danes had Rachael Burek, Rachel Bowles, Maureen Keggins each score two goals in the game. UAlbany held the advantage in draw controls, 13-7, with Kathleen Lennon tallying a game-best seven. UMass (5-2) jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the first two minutes of play. The Minutewomen's Cori Murray facilitated both goals, dishing to Katie Ferris and Sam Rush. UAlbany (2-2) finished off the half on a 4-2 to run to grab its first lead of the game, 5-4. The Great Danes used three difference scorers during the run Burek (2), Bowles (1), and Allie Phelan (1). The Great Danes extended their lead to two, 6-4, in the opening minutes of the second half. Nichole Eamer found Jess Antelmi, who put in her first goal of the contest. The Minutewomen responded with three straight goals within a minute and 20 seconds to go up by one, 7-6, at the 20:41 mark. UMass' Tanner Guarino began the three-goal stretch. UAlbany's Keggins and Bowles scored the next two of the team's goal with UMass' Ferris tallying her third goal of the game to tie the game at eight, with 12:41 left in the game. Neither team found the back of the net for the final 12 minutes of the game and forced the contest into overtime. Both teams battled during the six-minute overtime with the defensive side of the game taking over. However, with one second left on the clock, the Minutewomen's Ferris found teammate Sam Rush for the game-winner and record their fifth win of the season. UAlbany junior goalkeeper Anna Berman held her own between the pipes, recording eight saves on 17 chances in the loss. UMass goalkeeper Rachel Vallarelli tallied three saves on 11 chances in the win. The Great Danes will look ahead to the Manhattan Jaspers on Monday, Mar. 11 at John Fallon Field at 12 p.m.