ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College women's lacrosse team defeated Concordia University 15-14 after two overtime periods Monday afternoon. Seven individual Bulldogs scored against Concordia including Melaina Springer, who recorded a team-high five goals in the victory.
How It Happened
In the first quarter of Monday's contest against Concordia, both teams would combine for a total of six goals in the game's first fifteen minutes. With four and a half minutes played in the first quarter, Mey Sun recorded her first goal of the season to give the Bulldogs an early one-goal advantage. Midway through the first quarter, Springer would tie the game at two-all, scoring in her sixth game in seven appearances for the Bulldogs. The tie was short-lived, as Concordia would score two goals in the quarter's final five minutes to take a 4-2 lead heading into the second.
In the second quarter Monday, the Bulldogs would double up the Cardinals to tie the game at six all heading into halftime. Within the first thirty seconds of the second, senior defender Jenna Anheuser would score her fifth goal of the season to bring the Bulldogs within one at 4-3. However, the one-goal deficit would be short-lived as Concordia would score two quick goals within the next three and a half minutes to take a 6-3 lead over the women's lacrosse team. Despite the deficit, the Bulldogs responded and closed out the first half on a 3-0 run to tie the game up at six all, after two goals by Maggie Bean and one by Springer.
To open the second half, the Bulldogs continued their momentum. Within the third quarter's first minute, Springer would score her third goal of the game to give the Bulldogs their first lead since Sun's opening goal in the first quarter. In the third, the Cardinals would tie the game up twice, but the Bulldogs would always have an answer. In total, Adrian College scored five goals in the third, compliments of Springer, Emily Crager, Taylor Gregan, and Zoe Weber. Crager would lead the charge scoring goals at the nine-minute and 5:48 marks of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs would take an 11-9 lead into the fourth quarter Monday, but quickly saw their lead diminish after a 3-0 run by Concordia, which dropped the Bulldogs behind at 12-11 with a little under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth. Desperate to regain the momentum, Crager, Gregan, and Weber scored goals within a span of five minutes after the Concordia goal to lead 11-8. The Cardinals responded with a goal in the closing minute of the third as both teams looked to take the victory Monday. "This was an exciting game to coach. I am very proud of our girls and how they competed today. It was a dogfight until the end", said Coach Kali Bills.
In the fourth quarter of play, the intensity ramped up immensely. Both sides saw a combined four yellow cards and one green card in the fourth. Despite the lead from the women's lacrosse team, Concordia rallied and took a 12-11 lead with under 10 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs flipped their intensity and scored three expedient goals within a minute to take a two-goal lead at 14-12 after goals from Weber and Springer. Despite the lead, the Cardinals responded again and would force overtime after scoring back-to-back goals in the game's final three and a half minutes of regulation.
Neither team would score in the first overtime period. Later on, as tensions rose with 1:04 remaining in the second overtime period, Springer would score her fifth goal of the game by concluding the contest with the golden goal. Monday's victory marked the third time this season that the women's lacrosse team would record 10 or more goals in a game and the Bulldogs had successfully snapped their losing skid.
Top Dawgs
Springer would tie her career high with five goals in the double overtime win, while Bean posted a new career high with three goals scored during the afternoon. After her five-goal barrage, Springer is projected to re-enter the top 200 of NCAA Division III women's lacrosse players in goals per game average (last updated by NCAA on Sunday, March 26, 2023).
Up Next
The women's lacrosse team will travel to Hanover, Indiana next week to face Hanover College on Tuesday, February 4, at 3:00 PM. Live Stats and live stream information is available under the women's lacrosse schedule
