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WOMEN'S LAX FALLS TO SIMMONS 13-12 ON SENIOR DAY
With 4:01 remaining in the second half Simmons College sophomore Lee Sutherland (Tuftonbor, NH/Kingswood Regional) collected a pass from freshman Rachel Wallace (Braintree, MA/Braintree) and fired it into the net for the game winning goal to capture a 13-12 victory over hosting Mount Ida College on senior day in a crucial victory for the Sharks with play-off implications on the line for both teams. The Mustangs snap a three game conference winning streak falling to 8-5, 4-3 in league play while the Sharks keep their post-season tourney hopes alive with the victory improving to 4-6, 3-4 in the GNAC.
Simmons scored the opening four goals of the contest on tallies from Wallace, senior Jen Szkolt (Bondsville, MA/Palmer), sophomore Meaghan Mourice (Portland, ME/Deering), and freshman Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, NH/Exeter) in the opening seven minutes of the first half up 4-0.
After a slow start, the Mustangs found their groove notching the next two goals off single scores from junior’s Danielle Chuba (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington Regional) and Jen Thompson (Easton, MD/Easton) cutting the visitor advantage to 4-2 with 22:14 remaining in the first frame.
The squads exchanged goals for the next seven minutes making it 7-4 in favor of the Sharks with Thompson netting two for the Mustangs during the stretch. Simmons would get three scores on one apiece from Wallace, junior Natalie Stever (Chagrin Falls, OH/Hawken School), and sophomore Mikaela McSherry (Worcester, MA/St. Peter Marian).
The Mustangs followed finishing the half scoring the final three goals to tie the game up for the first time since the opening whistle on two scores from Thompson and another from Chuba knotting it up at 7-7 heading into the break. Thompson, who notched a game high six goals for the contest, scored five of her six in the first half including a four goal stretch to keep her team within striking distance.
Thompson cranked up the second half action with another goal, her sixth and final of the game, giving her team their first lead of the contest up 8-7 with 28:30 to go in the second stanza.
Simmons answered less than a minute later on a freshman Bayleigh Isherwood (Portland, ME/Portland) score on a dish from McSherry tying the game for the second time at 8-8.
The Mustangs did not waste any time regaining the advantage on a freshman Stephanie Hill (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) goal, her first of the game, from Chuba up 9-8.
The Sharks came right back knotting it up for the third time on an unassisted goal by McSherry at the 26 minute mark in the second frame making it 9-9.
Two consecutive goals ensued, both scored by Chuba, giving the Mustangs a commanding 11-9 lead around the 22nd minute. The visitors cut the Mount Ida advantage back to one on another Wallace goal at 11-10.
A successful free position attempt by Chuba regained the two goal lead for the hosts up 12-10 with 17:34 to go in the contest.
After the visitors converted a free position attempt of their own about a minute later cutting the Mount Ida lead to 12-11, the game was stagnant for the next nine ticks. Around the six minute mark the visitors tied the game on another Wallace free position goal tying the game at 12-12.
Sutherland gave her team the lead and eventually the victory on a well placed goal from Wallace for the 13-12 win. Mount Ida had a couple of good chances to tie the game in the final ticks but was unable to convert on a crucial free position attempt with about a minute left on a well defended play from the Shark.
Thompson led the game with six goals while fellow teammate Chuba notched five or her two. Hill was the only other Mustang to notch a goal along with an assist. Wallace led the swim for the Shark with five goals while McSherry added a deuce.
Mount Ida netminder freshman Devyn Frank (Mystic, CT/Fitch) was outstanding notching 10 saves and making some critical stops in a very tight contest. Simmons goaltender Kelly Last (West Haven, CT/West Haven) also was sharp tallying seven saves.
The Mustangs will wait to see if their playoff hopes are still alive after the weekend with today being their final regular season contest of the year.
