BOSTON – All the way down to the final seconds of regulation, the Colgate women's lacrosse program was able to persevere over the relentless Boston University defense to claim a 14-13 upset in the Patriot League Quarterfinals.
By ending No. 4 Boston University's season, the No. 5 Raiders advance to Thursday's Patriot League Semifinals at No. 1 Loyola, making its first appearance in the tournament semifinals since 2015.
Although Boston University was first to get on the board, the Raiders quickly flew down the field as
Annelise Kotz scored on Colgate's first offensive possession of the afternoon. It was
Lindsay West who put the Raiders on top to break the first of four ties after receiving a wide-angle pass from
Tara Atkinson and dodging between the defenders for the Colgate score.
The first of three major runs for the Raiders continued as Kotz attacked over the heads of the defenders for a 3-1 lead, but Boston University pushed back with its own three-goal run to regain the lead at 4-3 midway through the half. The Raiders responded with a pair as West bounced the ball past the Terrier goalie for another square game on the scoreboard, before completing her hat trick with a feed from the right side and cutting down the middle for a one goal lead.
After a stellar save was made by goalie
Samantha Croston minutes later, the ball was sent down the field and bounced up to
Madeline Barcia. The senior centered the ball to
Payton Gabriel and her low bounce went high over the netminder, with the full-field effort fueling the Colgate bench. As the seconds waned on the clock,
Jacklyn Hooey sent the Raiders into halftime with a 7-6 lead by scoring on the near side with just 7.1 remaining.
The goals in the final minutes of opening half allowed the offensive momentum to flow over to the second for the Raiders where after looping around the arc,
Noelle Patterson sent the ball out front to
Danielle Van Calcar. The sophomore's quick stick goal continued to increase Colgate's lead, before Patterson scored back-to-back. An energized Colgate squad gained a 10-6 advantage as Patterson picked up a ground ball at the edge of the crease and sent a left-handed shot to the back of the net to complete another hat trick.
Colgate's six-goal run was temporarily halted as the Terriers scored back-to-back on a play branching from a free position chance, narrowing the Raiders' lead to 10-7 early into the half. Promptly shutting down the Boston University momentum by going on another three-goal run, Colgate's
CC Telesco was ready to receive a pass picked out from a ground ball battle to make it another significant margin at 13-8.
The comfort of a five-goal lead did not remain for the Raiders, as Boston University went on a four-goal run of its own to make it a one-score game at 13-12. At a point in the game where the scoreboard could've easily shifted to favor the home team,
Payton Gabriel sent the ball out front to Patterson. After waiting for space, Patterson scored to put Colgate up by two with just 6:26 remaining, ultimately standing as the game-winner.
The Terriers won the following draw and flew down the field to make it a one-goal game yet again at 14-13. Neither team would score again in the remaining 5:33 of the regulation, but it was the most defensive action of the day as the team's fought for continued postseason play.
With just 1:35 remaining, Croston made the save of the game on a BU free position opportunity. After the save, the shot clock was turned off as the Raiders propelled down the field in the final minute of regulation with a one-goal lead. The Terriers pulled the goalie onto the field looking to force a turnover and though Colgate was backed into its defensive zone, the Raiders withstood the pressure to claim the upset of Boston University by a 14-13 score to advance to the Patriot League Semifinals.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• By notching four goals on the day, junior
Noelle Patterson improved to a team-high of 36 goals and has now scored in all 17 games this season. The performance ties her career-high of four goals posted earlier this season also against Boston University (March 27), and marks the sixth time she has earned three or more in a game. Patterson also led the team with her four ground ball recoveries and three caused turnovers.
• A force against the Terriers, sophomore
Annelise Kotz marked her second hat trick of the season, and her first since a four-goal performance at Boston University earlier this season (March 27). After her sixth multi-goal game of the season, Kotz holds 19 goals and is on an active two-game scoring streak.
• With a trio of goals, junior
Lindsay West now holds 22 on the season. In her seventh multi-goal game of the season, West earned her fourth hat trick of the year and first since a four-goal game against Lehigh (April 6).
• Behind her five-assist day, senior
Tara Atkinson moves up the rankings to third in program history of assists in a single season with 31 assists. Atkinson currently holds 53 in her career, and looks to crack 55 in Thursday's semifinals to join the top-10 of career assists.
• With her standout performance junior goalie
Samantha Croston earned her 17th career win, which moves her to 10th all-time in Colgate women's lacrosse program history. Croston tallied 10 saves for her eighth double-digit save game of the season.
• After posting a season-high of three points in the Raiders' win at Lafayette (April 26), sophomore
Payton Gabriel matched it in today's game by one goal and two assists. Gabriel tallied her seventh of the season and begins a two-game scoring streak for the first time this season.
• By recording one goal and two assists, freshman
CC Telesco posted a career-high three-point performance and is on a six-game active point streak.
• After notching the game-winner at Lafayette (April 26), freshman
Jacklyn Hooey begins a two-game scoring streak as she earned her 14th goal of the season.
• On her way to earning her 25th goal of the season, sophomore
Danielle Van Calcar recorded a multi-point day by assisting on Patterson's first tally.
• An all-around performance sophomore
Hanna Christian matched her career-high of four ground balls and three caused turnovers on the day and led the squad in both categories.
• Colgate's defensive play was a game-changer in which they recovered 21 ground balls to Boston University's 17, and held to 16 turnovers compared to the Terriers 19.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 14, Boston University 13
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate holds an 8-9 record, and a finished with a 5-4 mark in regular season Patriot League action.
• Boston University's season ends at 11-7 overall, where the Terriers earned a 6-3 record in Patriot League play.
COACH BEVILLE'S TAKE
"Wow. What a game! I am so proud of our players and their ability to outlast Boston today. We are all so excited to have advanced to the Patriot League Semifinals.
"
Samantha Croston had another huge day in cage while Noelle [Patterson] and Tara [Atkinson] helped get it done on the attacking end with five points each. Alissa [Masini] also did a great job limiting BU's Kailey Conry, who we did not see last time we played them. Over the last month we have grown and developed so much as individual players and as a team. I'm happy we have at least one more game together!"
UP NEXT
Colgate continues postseason action on Thursday as the No. 5 seeded Raiders face No. 1 seed and tournament host Loyola. First draw is set for 5 p.m. in Baltimore, where the winner advances to the Patriot League Championship on Saturday, May 4.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate women's lacrosse program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateWLax and on Instagram at ColgateWLax.
