MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Maple Street Field, Framingham, Mass.

FINAL:              FRAMINGHAM STATE 11, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 10 (OVERTIME)

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. --  Junior Stephanie Leonard’s (Framingham, Mass.) free position conversion with 4:19 remaining in overtime lifted Framingham State to an 11-10 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women’s lacrosse victory over Massachusetts Maritime Saturday morning at Maple Street Field.

Leonard’s heroics came after the host Rams (8-5, 3-2 MASCAC) forced the extra session by overcoming a two-goal deficit in the final 8:33 of regulation, as the visiting Buccaneers (5-6, 1-4 MASCAC) stormed back from a three goal deficit late in the first half to take a 10-8 advantage on freshman Stephanie Hunt’s (Brookfield, Conn.) free position tally.  Framingham State pulled to within one on sophomore Kristen Hoggins’ (Harvard, Mass.) goal two minutes later, and freshman Morghan Cassella (Lowell, Mass.) sent the contest into the overtime period with her third marker of the day that came with 46 seconds remaining in regulation.  Leonard’s conversion was the lone tally of the six-minute overtime period, as Massachusetts Maritime gained back possession with 1:20 remaining but turned the ball over, allowing the hosts to run out the clock and claim their triumph.

Framingham State raced out to an early 3-0 advantage in the opening 6:22 of play, but Hunt singlehandedly evened matters for the Buccaneers with a natural hat trick that came in less than nine minutes.  The two teams traded tallies before the Rams collected three straight goals en route to a 7-5 lead at the break, but Massachusetts Maritime responded with the first three scores after intermission, including Hunt’s conversion with just over 20 minutes to play in regulation that gave the visitors an 8-7 edge.  Cassella evened things again for the hosts with just under 17 minutes to play, but markers by freshman Brianna Pingree (Mashpee, Mass.) and Hunt gave the visitors their two-tally advantage, setting the stage for Leonard’s overtime golden goal.

Cassella netted a hat trick and three assists to finish with six points in the triumph for Framingham State, which also received a pair of markers and an assist from senior Zoe Reilly (Boyertown, Pa.).  Leonard and freshman Kimberly Foley (Mansfield, Mass.) each tallied twice for the Rams, who also received a marker and helper from Hoggins as well as a goal off the stick of senior Nicole L’Heureux (Dracut, Mass.). 

Hunt finished with a career-high six goals and an assist for a game-high seven points in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received a pair of tallies and a helper from Pingree.  Sophomores Dahlia Seggelin (Sharon, Mass.) and Ashley Solari (Sandwich, Mass.) added markers for the Buccaneers, who also received single assists off the sticks of junior Molly Smith (Westwood, Mass.) and sophomore Christina Murphy (Forestdale, Mass.).

Junior Alysha Cericola (Waltham, Mass.) picked up the win in goal with an 11-save effort for Framingham State, while freshman Mikayla Correia (Dartmouth, Mass.) made 14 stops in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime as the Rams outshot the Buccaneers by a 32-27 margin for the contest.

Massachusetts Maritime heads into Boston on Monday evening for a non-league outing with Wentworth that begins at 6:00 p.m., while Framingham State travels to Bridgewater, Mass. on Wednesday evening to take on Bridgewater State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference match beginning at 7:00 p.m.

(Photo courtesy Assistant Athletic Trainer Colleen Nolan)