COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's lacrosse team certainly made things interesting in a tightly contested OAC semifinal on Wednesday night at Bernlohr Stadium, but prevailed in overtime, defeating John Carroll, 14-13.
The Comets, who are the second seed in the tournament, improve to 9-4 on the season and will travel to the University of Mount Union on Saturday for the OAC Championship to be played at a to be determined time.
John Carroll ends their season with an overall record of 8-8.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets got off to an unsteady start falling behind 3-1 midway through the first quarter. A goal from
Grace Osborn briefly halted JCU from getting too far out of sight, but the Blue Streaks got the next two goals to move ahead 5-2.
Luci Kanowsky's second goal of the game made it 6-3, but again JCU answered back on a goal less than a minute later, leading 6-3.
Julia Foresi and Osborn would score before the break, but two more Blue Streak goals made the halftime score 8-5 in favor of the visitors.
Out of the intermission, Capital came out with a point to prove, scoring in just 22 seconds thanks to a woman-up free-position goal by Osborn. Kanowsky followed with a goal of her own before Osborn netted two more to make the score 9-8 in favor of Capital with 4:46 left in the third. Kanowsky and Foresi scored before the end of the third, making it 11-9, Comets.
To start the fourth quarter, Kanowsky and Osborn netted to put Cap ahead 13-9. There, Capital attempted to burn some clock and ride the game out, but JCU rattled off four goals in the last three minutes of regulation to knot the game at 13-13, forcing overtime.
In OT, JCU won the first draw, but
Grace Osborn forced a turnover by Olivia Gerlach and then scooped the ground ball giving Cap possession. On the other end,
Julia Foresi was sent to the eight-meter line where she rifled off the game winning goal with just 58 seconds left in the OT period sending the Comets to their second straight OAC Tournament final.
THE NUMBERS
Grace Osborn led the way offensively finishing with six goals and three assists for a team-best nine points. She also added two ground balls, a caused turnover and three draw controls.
Julia Foresi ended with three goals, four assists, four ground balls, two caused turnovers and eight draws.
Luci Kanowsky scored five times and added three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Andi Henry and
Brenna Todd both had two ground balls, while Henry had two caused turnovers.
Emily Serafinchon had a career-day making 14 saves and picking up four loose balls around the cage.
THE OPPONENT
Goals - Olivia Gerlach (4)
Assists - Kendall Gessner/Lauren Schwartz (2)
Ground Balls - Gerlach/Gessner (5)
Caused Turnovers - Shannon Burdick/Lainey Donalson (2)
Draw Controls - Mary Doherty (6)
Saves - Josephine Lawler (11)
UP NEXT
Capital will advance to face Mount Union in the OAC Championship this Saturday in Alliance, Ohio. A time is yet to be announced and will be released on athletics.capital.edu upon being finalized. This meeting between the Comets and Purple Raiders will mark the fourth OAC Tournament Final played between the two schools.
