After nearly making a comeback, the UConn women’s lacrosse team fell to Marquette 16-15 on Saturday. This puts the Huskies at a 9-5 overall and a 2-2 in conference play.
The Huskies faced challenges in generating any success from the beginning, as the Golden Eagles went on a 5-0 run within eight and a half minutes of the first quarter. Marquette’s defensive pressure played a key role in their early lead, as Connecticut turned the ball over five times.
Despite not starting on the right foot, Rayea Davis and Eliza Bowman tried getting the offense rolling by targeting the net, but both attempts were blocked. However, with 1:27 remaining in the first frame, Anna Magennis passed to Jenna Giardina at the top of the crease, who scored UConn’s first goal of the match. Regardless of gaining momentum, Marquette responded with less than a minute left, pushing the deficit back to five scores. The program led 6-1 at the end of the first period.
Heading into the second quarter, UConn quickly got down the field after Meghan Lane controlled the draw. Ava Plata fired at the keeper, Brynna Nixon, but missed wide of the net. However, after getting fouled by Addyson Graham, Plata capitalized on a free position shot and drilled it in, bringing the score to 6-2 with 13:10 remaining. Not long later, the Golden Eagles stormed into Husky territory after winning the face-off and notched another goal, taking a 7-2 advantage. In addition, with 9:12 left in the half, the team found the net once more, stretching the lead to 8-2.
The tables turned for Connecticut after Emma Dacey, behind the net, found Bowman running into the crease and tossed the rock in. Seconds later, Kelsey Neary closed the deficit to four points after dancing around defenders and shooting at the top of the arc. Nevertheless, after winning the draw, Sarah Beth Burns knocked in Marquette’s ninth goal of the contest.
Regardless of the setback, the Huskies cashed in three netters before halftime with Eve McGrogan starting the chain reaction. With 4:24 left, the sophomore rushed the cage while dodging defenders and sniped the ball through the keeper’s legs. A little less than a minute and a half later, Bowman’s attempt got deflected but Dacey rebounded the rock and fired a tough netter from the right side of the goalie. Finally, after playing catch around the arc, star attacker Rayea Davis found an opening beyond the crease and slung it in keeping UConn alive, 9-7 Golden Eagles. However, with a little more than two minutes remaining, Marquette drained a pair of their own, notching an 11-9 lead to end the half.
Coming out of halftime, the opponents kept the pace going as Meg Bireley struck first. Despite trailing by five points, Dacey responded by burying her second score of the day, but Isabelle Casucci found the equalizer for Marquette. Nevertheless, Davis connected with Megan O’Brien, who snuck around the goaltender and launched the ball in. Additionally, with 11 seconds left, Davis converted Connecticut’s third score of the quarter, making it a three-score game.
The Huskies came out strong in the fourth frame, putting up two successful shots. Davis passed to Giardina after wrapping around the goal and tossed the ball into the top right bin. Moreover, McGrogan closed the gap to one point after capitalizing on a free position attempt, 13-12 Marquette.
With 12:30 left, Tori Tomalia fouled Hanna Bodner, who was awarded a position shot and extended a 14-12 lead for the Golden Eagles. However, O’Brien struck back less than a minute later, throwing over the defender within the arc and finding the net.
Despite Riley Daly controlling possession, botched plays and penalties hurt Connecticut once again. After Lane fouled, Bodner, with her second free position shot, stepped up for the Golden Eagles, intercepting UConn’s chances at tying the matchup.
Coming down the wire with 5:38 remaining, Bireley put up one last goal, advancing a 16-13 lead for Marquette. However, the Huskies strived to break even as Magennis connected with Dacey coming from behind the net and ripped the ball in for a hat trick. Additionally, after Sofia Oximana saved a shot attempt, O’Brien caught a high pass from Plata and slammed the rock in for a hat trick as well. Regardless of trailing the Golden Eagles by one, the Huskies saw no shot attempts in the last two minutes.
Next up, UConn will return to Storrs, Conn. on Saturday, April 19, to take on Xavier. Face-off is scheduled for 12 p.m.