Philadelphia, PA - The La Salle Explorers took to the field at McCarthy Stadium for the final time in the 2004 season Sunday afternoon. For the four seniors: Maureen Flynn (Fairfax, VA/Paul VI), Tracy Guenther (Willow Grove, PA/Upper Moreland), Kim Sheridan (Willow Grove, PA/Upper Moreland), and Laura Whitman (Philadelphia, PA/St. Hubert) it was to be a special day. The Explorers were close to getting their first Atlantic 10 win of the season, but the rain moved in and washed away their hopes, as the Massachusetts Minutewomen stole the game 15-14 in double overtime.
Massachusetts opened an early 3-0 lead, getting goals from Maura McGarrity (Chester Springs, PA/Owen J. Roberts), Lindsay Cassell (Weston, MA/Weston) and Tracey Drown (Nashua, NY/Nashua) between 28:38 and 23:52.
The Explorers Kristen Davis (Folsom, PA/Ridley) netted the first of her four goals in the game at 23:33 to get La Salle on the scoreboard. Drown scored again for UMass to set the score at 4-1 before Davis knocked in her second of the game on a free position shot at the 20:15 mark.
Hope Zelinger (Ellicott City, MD/River Hill) got into the scoring action, posting the first of her four goals, 10:16 into the contest and marking the score at 5-2.
The Explorers then went on to score the next three goals, as Guenther scored off a pass from Davis, followed by Nicole Sunderland (Lansdowne, PA/Upper Darby) with help from Tiffany Grossi (Ridley Park, PA/Ridley) at 12:09 followed 22 seconds later by Kate Henwood's (Glen Mills, PA/Garnett Valley) unassisted goal with 11:47 to play in the half.
Afte more than seven minutes of stagnant play, the Minutewomen answered with two goals from Kerri Connerty (Nashua, NH/Nashua) and another goal from Zelinger.
Looking to close the scoring gap before the break, Davis scored with 1:18 to lock the halftime score a 7-6.
After the break, Kristie O'Donnell (Gibbsboro, NJ/Eastern Regional) ran the ball the length of the field from her defensive position to tie the score at 7-7. After 4:43 of play in the second half, Davis scored an unassisted goal to give the Explorers their first lead of the game.
The two teams traded a series of goals over the next 10 minutes, before freshman Catie Borneman (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) gave the Explorers a two goal lead with 12:11 to play on a free position shot.
Drown scored again for UMass with 9:38 to play, but Sheridan scored for
La Salle to keep the lead at two goals (12-10).
The Minutewomen rallied and scored with 6:32 remaining to bring the score to within one at 12-11. With time running out, La Salle turned the ball over and UMass' Samantha Sepulveda (Freeport, NY/Freeport) sprinted down the field and scored the tying goal with 12 seconds to play in regulation.
In the first of two three minute overtime sessions
, Massachusetts took possession and scored at the 2:35 mark by Drown, followed by Sepulveda with 1:12 to play. With time running out in the first three minute period, Sunderland scored to bring the score to 14-13.
Entering the second three minute period, Henwood capitalized on a UMass foul to score with 2:34 remaining on a free position shot.
As the game moved into a sudden victory phase, the teams played the next two three-minute periods scoreless. With both teams playing hard, UMass' Drown tipped in a shot with 1:51 left in the fifth session to seal the win at 15-14.
The Explorers will close out the 2004 season on the road this week, visiting Duquesne on Friday, April 30th at 4:00 p.m., followed by St. Bonaventure on Sunday, May 2nd at 12:00 p.m.
