The UConn women’s lacrosse team took its second loss of the season to Harvard in overtime, despite making a comeback in the second half on Wednesday night.
The Huskies took over from the start, as Riley Daly won the draw, leading to Eliza Bowman sniping one in for a 1-0 lead within two minutes of quarter one. Anna Magennis set Bowman up for the opportunity. Right after, UConn nearly extended the deficit as Rayea Davis attempted a free position shot but missed wide.
However, the takeover did not last long, as Connecticut rewarded Harvard with a free position shot. Callie Batchelder took advantage of the opportunity and found the equalizer for the team. Nonetheless, the Huskies fought back as Davis landed her first goal of the night assisted by her teammate Emma Dacey after the attack circled the net.
After back-and-forth turnovers, Harvard found an opening, but Tori Cini missed the opportunity. Despite defending well, JoJo Gum acquired a yellow card for UConn, giving Harvard their second free position shot. Caroline Mullahy notched Harvard’s second goal tying everything up. UConn failed to stop the pressure, as Harvard snatched the draw, leading to firing a wide shot. Nonetheless, the Harvard defense struggled at fouling, allowing Bowman to net her second, putting the Huskies back on top.
Daly once again controlled the ball for Connecticut at the beginning of the second quarter, but both teams locked each other down. However, Tori Balser deadlocked the match off a free position for Harvard, after UConn caused a foul.
Not long after winning the draw, the Crimson stormed down the field and Hannah Shiels scored for the lead. However, the Huskies responded with a netter of their own by Megan O’Brien. Harvard failed to stop the bleeding after letting up their third foul, allowing Husky Kelsey Neary to recover the lead.
Coming out of a Harvard timeout, the momentum shifted, as Charlotte Hodgson brought the program back to life, tying the contest at five apiece. However, Bowman nearly topped the team with three goals, but Lizzie Francioli blocked the shot attempt. Harvard cleared the ball, causing Hodgson to secure her second goal and take the lead. To add on, the deficit nearly opened to a two-point matchup, but Cini saved the shot.
Connecticut struggled to fight back, as Mullahy fired a shot, but Cini prevented the goal. Coming down the wire, fouls played a major role. Kicking things off, Karsyn Burnash nailed the foul shot for UConn. A few turnovers later and Ava Plata grabbed the 7-6 lead. With about a minute and a half remaining in the second frame, it looked as if the Huskies would go into the half on top, but Harvard rewrote the script. Mullahy and Batchelder challenged Connecticut’s defense, leading to a free position shot awarded to both that converted an 8-7 turn of events.
Coming into the third quarter, Havard continued pressing the keeper, as Batchelder tallied her third goal. Not long later, Stella Shea converted a free position shot and fired past Cini, increasing the deficit to 10-7. Despite not gaining any momentum, the Huskies never gave up. Mullahy turned the ball over after getting a yellow card, which allowed O’Brien to toss one up to Eve McGrogan, who notched her first goal and stopped UConn’s goal deficit.
Coming into the third quarter, the tides changed for Connecticut after Jenna Giardina passed the ball to Dacey, allowing her to make a diving goal. Connecticut looked for the tiebreaker after taking three attempts but failed to get past the keeper. Following those events, Harvard cleared the ball that put Charley Meier in a position to keep a two-point deficit. For the remainder of the third frame, neither team scored.
Heading into the final quarter Daly controlled the ball, but Plata turned over the rock to Harvard, putting UConn in foul trouble. The Pilgrims attempted two free positions shots, but one missed the target and Cini blocked the other. Connecticut continued to struggle at botching plays, leading to two shots fired that missed wide for Harvard.
The Huskies finally got something going with their first free position shot in the fourth quarter, but Burnash failed to punch the ball in. However, Bowman secured a hat trick after Beran forced a turnover, making it a one-point match. In addition, after a free position, saved by Francioli, O’Brien picked the ball up for the Huskies, found Davis, who passed it to Burnash, who launched it and leveled the contest.
Despite gaining control, fouls and turnovers by UConn gave the Crimson opportunities. However, Cini stayed strong and prevented the goal. After trading shots, Davis found her second goal, after staying quiet in the second and third quarters. Nonetheless, following a timeout, Meier notched her second netter. Before heading into overtime at 12-12, O’Brien struck the ball one last time, but Francioli kept the program alive.
Harvard kicked off the overtime stretch strong, as Batchelder fired one at Cini but went wide. However, the Pilgrims got it right back after Annabel Child caused a change in possession, allowing Shea to seal the game 13-12.
Next up, the Huskies will return to Storrs on Sat., March 1 to take on the Massachusetts Minutemen. Face-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.