The Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team could not maintain a five-goal halftime lead on Saturday, and it fell to Harvard 9-8 in overtime. UMass (1-2) entered the game heavily favored, against a Harvard team that went 3-11 last season.
A second-half barrage by the Crimson turned a five-goal deficit into 8-8 tie, before Harvard freshman Liz Gamble capped off the game winner, 56 seconds into overtime. Gamble came off the bench to tally three goals and one assist in the second half.
For the Minutewomen, the turning point of the game was a non-call that took place in the final seconds of regulation. Hope Zelinger of UMass was knocked to the turf amidst a breakaway attempt, as time expired.
Referring to the play in question, UMass coach Carrie Bolduc said, “I obviously thought it should have been a penalty, but there’s nothing we can do, the game wasn’t videotaped.”
UMass wasted no time getting on the board early, as senior captain Tracy Drown scored 33 seconds into the game. Junior midfielder Maura McGarrity added to the lead with a goal at 1:57. Attacker Lindsay Cassell expanded the lead to four, with back-to-back goals coming off dodges in front of the cage.
Harvard stopped the bleeding with a goal from Catherine Sproul at 18:11, but Massachusetts replied with a series of goals, including McGarrity’s second, and freshman Brianna Bubeck’s first two career goals. Harvard got a goal from Elaine Belitsos to end the half, closing the gap to five.
Harvard went on a 7-1 run after the break, earning coach Sarah Nelson a victory in her first game behind the Crimson bench.
Kerri Connerty of UMass made what was arguably the nicest play of the game, for the lone Minutewomen goal of the second half. With 19:45 left in regulation, Connerty split a double team at the eight-meter hash mark in front of the Harvard goal, and bounced home a shot between goalie Kathryn Tylander’s legs.
During overtime, UMass had a golden opportunity when sophomore Lindsay Cassell found herself receiving a pass within arms reach of the goal. Unfortunately for the Minutewomen, Cassell’s shot found its self being absorbed by Tylander’s chest protector, instead of the nylon net.
Redshirt freshman Lauren McCarthy made 18 saves on 27 shots in her third start for UMass, while Tylander notched 14 saves, 11 of which came in the final 36 minutes.The Minutewomen will look to get back on the winning track when they travel to Hofstra on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. match against a Pride team that went 8-8, 4-3 in the Colonial conference in 2003.Hofstra is coming off a season-opening loss to Rutgers 12-7, and are picked to finish third in the conference. The Pride return 20 letterwinners after losing only five to graduation last season, but must find a way to replace Kathleen Mikowski, an All-American attacker who graduated last spring.
