Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Stevenson women's lacrosse took a late lead in a back-and-forth nonconference clash, holding on for a gritty 13-12 victory against Mary Washington on Friday night.
Stevenson (2-3) notched its second-straight victory by just one goal, pulling ahead for good on Caity Schaefer's tally with just 1:40 remaining. It was all part of a composed second-half turnaround for the Mustangs, which used a big third quarter to seize back control heading into the final frame.
Mary Washington (3-2) took the lead in the opening half and traded chances with the Mustangs over the final 30 minutes. The Eagles leveled the score at 12 with just 5:33 remaining before the Mustangs converted for the eventual game-clinching goal.
Caroline Murphy accounted for each of the Mustangs' initial four markers in the opening half, finishing with a game-high five goals for the hosts. Kara Yarusso added three goals and an assist, while Kaitlyn Kozlowski had a goal and 11 draw controls. Sophie Shucosky had nine saves on the night, which included some at point-blank range during the second half.
The Mustangs opened the scoring before UMW countered with three unanswered in the first quarter. Murphy rifled home a pass from Yarusso, slicing the deficit to 4-2, before the Eagles added the final marker of the frame on a chance from Katie Blair at 3:52. Each team found the net twice in the second quarter as Murphy ripped her fourth goal of the half with 26 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Schaeffer carved inside for her initial goal of the night as the onset of the second half as Stevenson trailed 6-5. The Eagles tacked on another goal, working their advantage back to a two-goal cushion before a three-goal barrage from Yarusso shifted momentum in favor of the Mustangs. All unassisted, Yarusso scored at 11:28, 8:23 and 5:19 with the latter handing Stevenson its first lead since the opening tally.
The Eagles responded with consecutive goals of their own in the third quarter, clawing back in front narrowly at 9-8. The Mustangs closed the third quarter with two goals over the final 49 seconds, coming courtesy of Mary Marc and Murphy for a big swing heading into the fourth. McKenna Blick scored on a free-position chance after a yellow card to UMW, stretching the Stevenson edge to 11-9.
Goals from Bridget Crowley and Erin Steinberg evened the score at 11 as things stayed tightly contested at 12 until the waning moments of the fourth quarter. Schaeffer ripped home the feed from Marc for the deciding goal and the Mustang defense capitalized on a costly UMW turnover on the ensuing possession.
Steinberg paced the Eagles with four goals and one assist, while Blair picked up three goals of her own.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Stevenson held a 38-24 edge in shots, using a 13-6 cushion in the third quarter to chip away at its deficit.
- Kozlowski had won 10 draw controls entering the night, picking up 11 more on Friday night alone for the Mustangs.
- The game was pushed up to Friday night because of an impending weather system moving into the region on Saturday.
- Blick has scored a goal in each of Stevenson's initial five games of the season. Meanwhile, Murphy picked up her second multi-goal effort of the season on Friday.
- Stevenson had won just one of the first 11 meetings with Mary Washington, two schools that were former conference opponents. Friday's win was the second in the series for the Mustangs.
- Four players attempted five shots or more for the Mustangs. Stevenson had six different goal-scorers in the second half, which included Yarusso's stretch of three consecutive.
UP NEXT
- Stevenson travels down to Florida for a pair of games, coming March 16 against FDU-Florham and March 18 against Rhodes.
- UMW hosts Randolph-Macon on Wednesday, March 16 at 4:00 p.m.
