March 19, 2008

Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Sophomore Anna Collins scored the game-winning goal with one second remaining in the second overtime to lift the Babson College women's lacrosse team to a dramatic 13-12 victory over Trinity College in a highpowered matchup of nationally-ranked foes in West Palm Beach on Wednesday morning. With the victory, the Beavers, ranked 12th in the country by the IWLCA, remained unbeated at 5-0, while Trinity, ranked ninth in the nation, suffered their first loss to drop to 1-2.

Babson senior tri-captain Anita Martignetti dished out a team-high three assists in the win to give her 53 in her career, moving her past Libby Bryant '05 into first place on the program's all-time list. With 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points in five games this season, the 2007 All-American is now first all-time in assists (53), fourth in goals (150), and third in total points (203).

First-year goalie Sarah Macary turned in another outstanding effort in net for the Beavers on Wednesday, making a career-high 17 saves, including two in overtime. Sophomore Kaitlyn Pettengill led the team with four goals, Collins finished with three goals and one assist, and junior Jackie Godfrey contributed two goals and two assists, including a gorgeous underhand feed on Collins' game-winner.

Junior Jess Parker chipped in with a pair of goals in the win, junior Lindsay Bucci added one goal and two assists, and first-year Sam Sulliman tallied a goal.

Trinity was paced by first-year Rachel Romanowsky, who led all players with six goals and one assist for seven points. Senior C.J. Yanofsky and first-year Caitlin Irvine each added two goals, while sophomore Sarah Remes and first-year Alisen Urquhart netted one score apiece. Senior goalie Michelle Smith matched Macary's play with a brilliant game of her own, finishing with 16 stops in net.

In a fantastic matchup that featured 10 ties and three lead changes, Trinity grabbed an early advantage when Yanofsky struck unassisted just 31 seconds into the game. Babson then jumped in front with consecutive goals by Godfrey and Collins, but the Bantams rattled off three straight, capped by Romanowski's first with 13:21 remaining in the half, to build their largest lead of the game at 4-2.

Pettengill struck for two straight scores to even the game at 4-4, and Godfrey netted her second of the day on a free position with just under five minutes left in the period to put the Beavers back in front. Trinity tied it again on Romanowsky's second with 4:08 to play, but Pettengill capped off a strong first half with her third to give the Beavers a 6-5 lead heading into the break.

Babson opened up its largest lead of the contest in the first eight minutes of the second half, scoring four of the first six goals to take a 10-7 lead with 22:22 left. Martignetti picked up her record-setting assist on the last of the four tallies, which was scored by Parker.

Trinity surged back into the contest over the next five minutes, as Romanowsky scored two straight unassisted goals and Yanofsky added another to pull the Bantams even at 10-10 with 16:42 remaining. Parker then converted a Bucci feed with 16:04 on the clock, but Trinity again knotted the score as Remes assisted Irvine with 15:45 to go.

After more than six minutes of scoreless play, Pettengill put Babson back on top when she scored off another Bucci assist to give the Beavers a 12-11 advantage with 9:36 remaining. However, Romanowsky drew a foul to earn a free position attempt with 2:07 left in regulation, and in dramatic fashion she converted her team's first 8-meter goal of the day to tie the score at 12-12.

Macary and Smith continued their stellar play in the first six-minute overtime session. Macary made two key stops during that span, while Smith made three clutch saves. After neither team was able to score during the mandatory six minutes, the game went to a three-minute sudden-victory session. With just seconds remaining, Godfrey flipped a gorgeous underhand feed in front to Collins, who one-timed a shot past Smith for the game-winner with just one second left. It was the sophomore midfielder's 18th goal of the season, tying her with Pettengill for the team lead.

"This was a great win for our team and our program," head coach Kully Reardon said afterward. "This was a hard-fought battle against a strong, highly skilled team, but our midfield played extremely well and we had some key players step up and make plays when we needed them the most."