PORTLAND, Ore. — The UW-River Falls women's lacrosse team won its matchup at Lewis & Clark 13-12 on Thursday, March 20.
The win concluded a three-game road trip in Oregon in which the Falcons went 3-0. On the season, UWRF's record moved to 5-2 overall.
The game started with a 3-0 run by Lewis & Clark, as the Pioneers capitalized off a goal in the first minute of action, later at the 13:19 mark, and once again at 9:06. Kinlee Knutson scored UWRF's first goal of the game with 8:06 remaining in the first, followed by back-to-back goals from Elizabeth Clough and Brooke Glumack to tie the game at 3-3. The Falcons and Pioneers exchanged a goal each in the final stages of the first period, heading into the second frame tied at 4-4.
The second quarter was challenging for UWRF, as Lewis & Clark rattled off five straight goals to build up a 9-4 lead. Glumack added another goal for UWRF with 43 seconds remaining in the half, cutting the deficit to 9-5 at halftime.
UWRF chipped away at the deficit early in the third as Molly Pierce and Samantha Hayek opened up the second half with back-to-back goals that trimmed Lewis & Clark's lead to 9-7 with 11:45 to go in the third. Hayek and Murphi Specht kept the momentum going with consecutive goals to tie the game at 9-9, before the Pioneers added a goal with 36 seconds left in the third quarter to lead 10-9 heading into the final period.
Hayek's goal at the 13:36 mark of the fourth quarter tied the game at 10-10. Both teams exchanged goals as the scoreline moved to 11-11 with just over eight minutes to go in regulation. Avery Watzke put UWRF up 12-11 with 4:12 to go, before Lewis & Clark tied the game at 12-12 just 42 seconds later.
With just 1:24 remaining, Murphi Specht converted a free position shot to give the Falcons a 13-12 advantage. This goal would prove to be the game-winner, as UWRF held on in the final stages and earned a narrow one-point victory.
Hayek led UWRF with six points off four goals and two assists, while Glumack finished with five points off three goals and two assists.
Next up, River Falls is set to return home to Ramer Field on March 24. The Falcons will face Edgewood at 6:30 p.m.
