WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Three player-up goals proved to be the difference in Trinity Women's Lacrosse's 11–8 win over host Williams College on Saturday afternoon in a season-opening New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) showdown.
With the win, the Bantams open the season 1-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while the Ephs fall to 0-1 (0-1 NESCAC).
How It Happened
- Senior Grace Denious sparked a 4-1 lead in the opening quarter with a boisterous goal just 40 seconds into the match. Junior Sarah Marvin added a free-position goal during a player-up opportunity, and Denious capitalized on her own free-position attempt soon after.
- First-year Lily Acerra netted the fourth goal for the Bantams, making it 4-0 with 6:39 remaining in the opening quarter, as Williams had managed just one shot to that point. With just over two and a half minutes left in the frame, Williams' Franny Donohue put the Ephs on the board with an unassisted goal.
- Williams shifted the momentum in the second quarter, scoring four goals to Trinity's lone tally.
- Senior Alex Lesko opened the quarter with Trinity's fifth goal off a feed from Denious to make it 5-1. With 7:37 remaining in the half, the Ephs ignited their run when Coco Norman scored from the free-position spot. Three more goals followed — Sydney Puntus on a free-position attempt, Donohue, and Ainsley Abel with under a minute remaining — to tie the game at 5-5 heading into halftime.
- Trinity responded with four unanswered goals in the third quarter to take a 9-5 lead. Lesko added her second goal of the game, junior Charlotte Troy recorded her first, and senior Kaeley Zito scored back-to-back goals to give the Bantams breathing room.
- In the final frame, Denious recorded her third goal of the contest — securing a season-opening hat trick — and giving the Bantams their 10th goal of the game.
- First-year Maggie Slimbaugh netted her first collegiate goal during a player-up opportunity with just under five minutes remaining, scoring on an unassisted effort.
- The Ephs added three more goals, including two in the final two and a half minutes, in an attempt to close the gap. However, they were unable to overcome the deficit, falling to Trinity, 11-8.
Inside the Numbers
Shots: Trinity 23 (10 on goal); Williams 29 (13 on goal)
Saves: Alison MacDougall (TRIN) – 11; Charlotte Cote (WIL) – 4; Savoy McMahon (WIL) – 0
Draw Controls: Trinity 5; Williams 16
Free-Position Shots: Trinity 4-7; Williams 2-9
Clears: Trinity 14-20; Williams 11-13
Offensive Leaders: Grace Denious (TRIN) – 3 goals; Franny Donohue (WIL) – 3 goals
Up Next
The Bantams return to action on Wednesday, March 4, when they host Union College for a 6 p.m. game under the lights at Robin L. Sheppard Field.
TRINITY ATHLETICS