The Basics
Final Score: Mercer 17, Detroit Mercy 16 (2OT)
Records: Detroit Mercy 4-6 (0-1 SoCon), Mercer 4-6 (1-1 SoCon)
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Titan Field)
DETROIT (3/31/2018) -- The inaugural Southern Conference game for the University of Detroit Mercy women's lacrosse team was about as thrilling as possible, with the Titans and visiting Mercer needing two overtimes to decide the outcome. Detroit Mercy, which tied the game 16-16 on a
Lexie Kinmond goal with 21 seconds left in regulation, fell in the second overtime period by a 17-16 margin with the Bears scoring with 1:19 left.
It was the first double-overtime game in school history and just the second overtime game overall in the 10-year history of women's lacrosse at Detroit Mercy.
The Titans (4-6, 0-1 SoCon) trailed Mercer late in the contest Saturday, with Mercer using a run to take a 15-13 lead with 8:58 left. The Titans scored three of the final four goals in regulation, however, with junior Lexie Kinmond finding senior
Jordyn Beam for a goal with 4:25 left and then redshirt sophomore
Kaitlyn Wandelt scoring just two minutes later. Wandelt's goal knotted the game, 15-15, with 2:30 left on the clock.
With 59 seconds left in regulation, Mercer's Meghan Segreti scored to put the Bears back ahead, but Kinmond then won the ensuing draw control and just half a minute later, she found a seam in the defense and fired a shot past the Mercer goalie to tie the game, 16-16, with 21 seconds left. Detroit Mercy would secure the next draw control, but wasn't able to get a final look on goal in regulation.
Mercer won the first draw control in overtime and had the first look on net, but junior goalkeeper
Allison McDonough was up to the task, making the save on Segreti with 2:28 left in the first overtime frame. Mercer had another shot later, but it was off-target and then senior
Brittany Fenney forced a turnover. After a Detroit Mercy turnover, the Bears had numbers as they ran down the field, but the clock rang out before Mercer could get a look on goal.
The Bears won the draw in double overtime, but McDonough again made a great save on Mercer's Erica Coyne. After the Titans had a turnover on the offensive end, the Bears made good on their next attempt, scoring with 1:19 left in the second OT to end the game.
Detroit Mercy got off to a great start in the contest, scoring the first five goals with five different players scoring --
Emma Leszczak,
Morgan Girardi,
Kristina Ellis, Kaitlyn Wandelt and
Jessica Snyder. Mercer followed with five-straight goals of its own, but the Titans scored two of the final three in the first half -- Ellis' second with 1:52 left in the opening half as Detroit Mercy held a 7-6 halftime lead.
The two teams traded goals early in the second half with Girardi scoring twice in the first five minutes and Wandelt also scoring off a feed from Beam. Detroit Mercy took an 11-8 lead after Beam scored from Girardi with 23:59 left in the game. The Bears then went on a 5-0 run to take a 13-11 edge, but Girardi and Wandelt each scored their third goals of the game midway through the second to knot the game again, 13-13. It all set up for a thrilling finish on a cold and windy day from Titan Field.
Kinmond had a team-high and season-best seven points for the Titans, finishing with two goals and five assists. Girardi and Wandelt each collected hat tricks and finished with four goals and one assist, while Beam had three points on two goals and one assist. Ellis had her second-straight two-goal game for the Titans, while Leszczak and Snyder each added goals for the red, white and blue.
McDonough made seven saves in net, including two during overtime. She also had a game-high six ground balls. Girardi and Kinmond each had three caused turnovers and three draw controls, while Wandelt led the squad with five draw controls. Beam and Girardi each had three ground balls as well. Senior defender
Taylor Spray finished with two caused turnovers.
The game was fairly even on the stats sheet with Detroit Mercy edging Mercer in shots, 35-34. The Titans had one fewer turnover, 17 to Mercer's 18, while the Bears held the advantage in draw controls, 21-14. The red, white and blue had 21 ground balls and went a season-best 18-of-19 on clear attempts (94 percent).
Titan News & Notes
• The last four games between the two teams have been decided by three goals or less.
• It was the first double OT in school history; Detroit Mercy also played in overtime in the title game of the ASUN Championship in 2016.
• The Titans scored 16 goals for the fourth time this season and second time at home.
• Wandelt scored four goals for the fifth time this season; Her season-high is six vs. Duquesne.
• Kinmond posted seven points for the second time this season; Her five assists were a season-best.
• Girardi tied her season-high in both goals (4) and point (5); Her three CT were a season-best.
• Beam has tallied three or more points in seven of the last eight games.
• Beam went over 20 goals on the season for the second time in her career (career-high is 28 in 2017).
• McDonough moved into fifth place in career ground balls (138), while Webley went into a tie-for-seventh (131) with former teammate Kylie Birney.
• Ellis scored two goals for the second-straight game and has six on the season.
• Detroit Mercy leads the all-time series with Mercer, 3-2.
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On Tap
Detroit Mercy is in the middle of a four-game home-stand and next hosts SoCon foe Delaware State on Friday, April 6 at 3 p.m. The Titans then host Howard on Sunday, April 8 from Titan Field. Admission for all home games are free.
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