Ernst Leads Women’s Lacrosse over SCSU in 3 OT Thriller, 17-16

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (March 30, 2019) – A combined 32 goals was not enough to decide a winner on Saturday afternoon at Jess Dow Field. The 33^rd goal of the game was provided three overtimes deep by freshman attack Savannah Ernst (American Fork, Utah), to cap a five-goal outing, as the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team escaped with a  17-16 win over host Southern Connecticut State in Northeast-10 Conference play. SCSU freshman attack Karlie Rowe led all players with seven goals.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 6-3 (3-3 NE10), while SCSU falls to 2-9 (1-6 NE10).

Trailing 15-11 with under 15 minutes to play, it was SCSU which forced the issue down the stretch on Saturday. Three straight man-up goals for the Owls, including a pair by Rowe, closed the gap to 15-14 with 9:20 to play. Sophomore attack Caroline Lounsbury (Franklin, Mass.) reclaimed the two-goal lead with 4:51 remaining, but it would not be enough to seal the deal in regulation.

Senior attack Samantha Cozzolino converted on a pair of free-position opportunities – one with 4:03 to play and another with just 52 seconds remaining – to draw SCSU level at 16-16 and force overtime. In all, SCSU scored five of the final six goals in regulation.

The first two overtimes went scoreless, with the two teams combining to put five shots on goal. In the third overtime, Franklin Pierce freshman goalkeeper Megan Bacik (Huntington Station, N.Y.) made a save against Rowe 1:59 into the frame. The game's final save set the stage for Ernst's game-winner, which came just 30 seconds later at the other end of the field.

Earlier in the day, SCSU opened up a 5-3 lead over the game's opening 15 minutes, utilizing a trio of goals from Cozzolino, who finished with six scores on the day. Franklin Pierce used an impressive, 7-0 run, over a span of 12:19 – including four goals from Ernst and a pair from freshman midfielder Jenna Cimbron (Bristol, R.I.) – to surge to a 10-5 lead. The Ravens would hold a 10-6 advantage into halftime.

The second half would open with some back and forth play, as the teams ultimately traded five goals apiece to leave Franklin Pierce with the aforementioned 15-11 lead. Franklin Pierce was never able to push the lead higher than four goals, but the Owls never closed the gap to less than two, until they made their game-closing surge to force overtime.

Franklin Pierce put together a balanced attack, which saw six players tally at least two points on the day, and the Ravens were led by Ernst's five goals, three goals from junior attack Bella Lima (Hudson, Mass.) and two goals and an assist for Lounsbury. Freshman defender Jacklyn Keane (Framingham, Mass.) led the team with four ground balls, while freshman midfielder Megyn Ayotte (Guilford, Vt.) caused a pair of turnovers.

In contrast, SCSU got the majority of its offense from Rowe's seven goals and Cozzolino's six tallies. Freshman midfielder Kelly Jagodzinski dished out three assists to round out the SCSU players with at least three points. Cozzolino piled up a game-best 12 draw controls, while sophomore goalkeeper Laura Morton led all players with six ground balls.

Bacik (6-3) finished with 14 saves against 30 shots on goal to pick up the win for Franklin Pierce. Morton (2-9) made 14 saves as well, against 31 shots, and suffered the loss in the SCSU crease.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, April 2, when they return home to host Saint Anselm in an NE10 contest. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge. 

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce lacrosse apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).