ALBANY, N.Y. – Host and top-seed Albany (12-6) ended No. 2 Binghamton's (11-6) historic season with a 14-13 win in the America East Women's Lacrosse Championship Sunday morning at John Fallon Field.
In their first-ever championship game appearance, the Bearcats stood toe-to-toe with a Great Danes team that was competing in its 12
th straight title game and showed its mettle with a stellar 60-minute performance. The see-saw game was tied eight times and wasn't decided until the closing seconds.
Albany scored the game-winner with just 2:50 remaining after
Hayley Weltner had tied it at 13-13 with a free position goal with 4:59 left. Binghamton had answered Albany's charge all day long but couldn't find the final equalizer, despite three possessions in the final three minutes.
The Bearcats rallied from four down to tie it early in the fourth quarter and stood tall throughout. Weltner had two goals in the fourth and kept BU alive with 11 draw controls, including the last inside three minutes that gave the Bearcats a chance to tie.
Binghamton held a 29-27 shots advantage and also controlled the faceoff circle with an 18-12 margin.
"Today was a well-fought battle between two incredibly competitive teams," head coach
Stephanie Allen said. "I am proud of our team's resiliency and for believing in each other. This group has a lot to be proud about this season and has a bright future ahead."
Weltner,
Abigail Carroll (3 goals, 1 assist) and goalie
Emily Manning (8 saves) were named to the All-Championship Team. Carroll set a new BU single-season record for free position goals (19) and free position goals per game (1.19), surpassing Callon Williams totals of 17 and 1.00 from 2016.
In an action-filled third quarter, Albany snapped a 7-7 tie, scored five goals and with just over a minute left, held an 11-7 lead. But BU finished strong with two goals in a 13-second span to draw within two, 11-9, at the quarter's end. Carroll struck for her 43
rd goal of the season on a free position tally and
Isabella Meli (3 goals) converted her own free position chance with just 37 seconds left.
Then the Bearcats scored twice in a 54-second span to start the fourth and draw even at 11-11. Weltner took a feed from Carroll and scored 52 seconds into the frame.
Olivia Muscolino (2 goals, 1 assist) then executed a terrific roll dodge and finished less than a minute later – her 38
th of the season - to forge another tie. The four straight goals came in a 2:36 span that bridged both quarters.
Meli then countered an Albany goal by cashing in on a great feed from
Carla Curth to knot it at 12-12 with 8:40 left. With the game tied at 13-13, Manning made a strong save with 3:21 that gave the ball back to the Bearcats. But an errant pass led to a turnover and the Danes' deciding goal.
The Bearcats were gritty and aggressive from the opening whistle, holding the potent Great Danes off the board for the game's first 10 minutes and surging toward the net on the attack.
Marisa Tancredi gave BU a 1-0 lead with her 26
th goal of the season with 7:40 left. Albany countered with three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead after one quarter.
But the Bearcats used a 5-1 surge in the second to grab a 6-4 lead. A rebound goal from
Kristen Scheidel opened the flurry just 36 seconds into the period. Carroll and Meli struck for transition goals to put BU back in front 4-3. After Albany evened it midway through the quarter, BU exploded for two goals in 18 seconds.
Kenna Newman converted a 2v1 transition goal and Carroll followed with a free position tally into the top corner with 6:12 left. Albany scored twice in the last 3:05 of the half to even the score at 6-6 at intermission.
NOTES
The Bearcats' record-breaking season included its first-ever title game appearance, best conference record (5-1) and tournament seed (#2), most overall wins (11) and most consecutive wins (7) … it also was filled with individual honors with Allen grabbing her first America East Coach of the Year accolades and a record eight Bearcats earning all-conference laurels.
