LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna Women's Lacrosse Team (1-6, 0-2) returned home to face conference opponent Bethel University (Ind.) Pilots (5-2, 2-0). Despite an overcast with heavy sleet and winds exceeding twenty miles per hour, neither team backed down from the harsh conditions. While it appeared as though Madonna was going to run away with the win early, Bethel rallied to a comeback that took the game into overtime. In a sudden-death situation, the Pilots got the golden goal to beat the Crusaders 17-16.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Crusader captain junior Mia Dyson opened up the game with two goals right in a row to give the Crusaders an early lead. Bethel fired back with a goal of their own, but then sophomore Katie Potter took advantage as the Pilots' goalie stepped out of the crease, scoring a nearly free goal as Madonna jumped ahead 3-1 midway through the first.

Bethel traded them a goal of their own to follow, but quickly after it a Pilot turnover led to senior Aria Gettel firing in her first goal of the day. Almost immediately after, Gettel would pick off the Pilots' goalie on a clear attempt pass, and run it back for another Crusader score. After dodging her way to a free position shot a minute later thanks to a turnover caused by Rianna O'Connor, Gettel would score her third goal of the first period off the eight-meter attempt. Dyson would score her third goal of the first period in the closing seconds off of a free position attempt of her own as Madonna sat comfortably up 7-3 after one.

The Pilots proved to the Crusaders that they weren't going to go down easy as they battled back in the second period, tying up the game at 7-7. With just under three minutes to play in the first half, the Crusaders took back the lead thanks to a free position shot by Dyson. With under a minute to play in the first half and in a woman-up position, Gettel took advantage, scoring once again to give the Crusaders two goals of breathing room heading into halftime.

Sophomore Sydney Pattinson scored her first goal of the afternoon off of a free position shot to start the third, but the Pilots would soon tie the game up at 10-10. Gettel fought her way to another free position shot, which she knocked down to give Madonna the lead back. Following a clutch save from goalie Hannah Dickson, the Crusaders cleared it as Gettel landed her sixth goal of the game and eighteenth of the season. After her first goal was called back, senior Courtney Hoeland finally landed her first goal of the day in the closing seconds of the third period, as the Crusaders held on to the lead at 13-12.

The fourth period turned into a stalemate as Bethel tied it up at 13-13, and the two teams began trading goals. Taking advantage of a woman-up situation, Dyson dodged her way to her fifth goal of the game. It was only a few minutes later that Gettel hit her with a smooth assist as Dyson capped off her afternoon with a sixth goal. Gettel slung another assist, this time to Hoeland, in the closing minutes as Madonna went up 16-14 with just under six minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, the Pilots would land two quick goals in the final minutes to force overtime. In the sudden-death situation, Bethel managed to score the golden goal and close out Madonna 17-16.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

• Gettel led the team in almost every category, scoring six goals, recording four assists, caused five turnovers, and scooped 13 ground balls.
• Dyson shot 86%, scoring six goals.
• Hoeland scored two goals and recorded one assist.
• Dickson had 10 saves as the goalie.

UP NEXT

The Crusaders will stay home as they face (RV) Siena Heights this Wednesday, March 29th at 4:00 pm.

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