Watson Nets Double-Overtime Game Winner as Women's Lacrosse Defeats Roberts Wesleyan, 15-14, on Senior Day
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 18, 2015)- Senior Keri Watson (Massapequa Park, N.Y. / Massapequa) scored the game-winner, off a feed from freshman Nicole Kleet (Huntington Station, N.Y. / Walt Whitman), with 53.2 seconds remaining of double overtime as the Mercy College women's lacrosse team defeated the Redhawks of Roberts Wesleyan College, 15-14, on senior day.
Kleet finished with seven points on four goals and three assists for the Mavericks who improve to 6-9 overall and 2-4 in the East Coast Conference. Loren Dunn and Cassley Jackowski combined for nine goals for the Redhawks who fall to 8-6 overall and 3-4 in the ECC.
Five different Mavericks netted a goal in the first half, as senior Marissa Kluber (Wading River, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River) and Watson scored back-to-back goals to even the game at 5-4 with 02:21 remaining. Dunn and Jackowski would both net a goal with under a minute to play and the Redhawks held a 6-5 lead at halftime.
The second half turned into a heavyweight fight with the Mavericks and the Redhawks both counter punching each other for the lead. Kleet and sophomore Alexa Haines (Lindenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst) scored in the opening two minutes to regain the lead at 7-6. Dunn and Jackowski would both score another giving Roberts an 8-7 lead.
The Mavericks answered back as Kluber netted two goals off feeds from Kleet and freshman Grace Davidson (West Islip, N.Y. / West Islip). Kleet would complete her hat-trick in the second half, as she scored with 18:45 remaining to give Mercy a 10-8 advantage.
The Redhawks attempted to put some breathing room, as they scored four unanswered to hold a 12-10 lead with 9:27 remaining. Redshirt senior Meg McNally (Hillburn, N.Y. / Lock Haven Univ.) aggressiveness finally paid off, as she scored back-to-back goals to rally the Mavericks and even the game at 12-12 with 3:23 remaining. The Redhawks answered a minute later as Ali Fox scored on a free position shot, giving Roberts the 13-12 lead.
The Redhawks attempted to hold the ball for the final two minutes, but Dunn attacked a wide open Mavericks net and took a shot that missed wide right. Mercy regained the ball with a minute remaining in regulation. Mercy would send the game into overtime as Davidson netted a goal with time expiring to send the game into overtime.
In the extra session Jackowski and Kleet both scored to even the game at 14-14, entering the three minute sudden death session. In sudden death, Kleet connected with Watson as she was cutting to net and Watson ripped the shot passed the keeper for the victory.
McNally added five draw controls, two groundballs and two caused turnovers, while sophomore Melissa DellaRocca (Lindenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst) and senior Marie Roser (Port Ewen, N.Y. / Kingston both finished with two groundballs and two caused turnovers. Sophomore Jillian Rocco (Dix Hills, N.Y. / Half Hollow Hills East) made three saves in 30 minutes of work, while freshman Cara Moran (Tomkins Cove, N.Y. / North Rockland) played the final 38:07 and made six saves to improve to 3-0. Shannon Knapp made 10 saves and falls to 7-6.
Before the game, senior Maria Nardulli (Staten Island, N.Y. / St. Joseph by the Sea), Watson, Kluber and Roser were honored by Head Coach Dawn Anselmin and her staff.
Coach Anselmin and the Mavericks will return to action on Tuesday, Apr. 21, facing the Knights of Queens College in Flushing, N.Y. at 4:00 p.m.
