A fourth-quarter comeback for the No. 14/15 Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team proved pointless, as it could not secure the golden goal thereafter.
Following a heartbreaking home defeat, the Seawolves (3-2) looked to get back on track in Piscataway, N.J.; the site of a midweek, Wednesday affair hosted by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-2). Stony Brook instead experienced another one-goal loss, with goalkeeping woes headlining its 12-11 defeat.
With five minutes remaining in the contest, the teams were separated primarily in one sector: their last line of defense. The Seawolves — who are yet to define their starting goalkeeper this season — sent out goalkeeper Ava Yancey to start the game, who struggled immensely. Before being pulled at halftime, Yancey made just two saves while conceding eight goals.
The true freshman was replaced by goalkeeper Natalia Altebrando, who minded Stony Brook’s cage for the remainder of the affair, posting a respectable .500 save percentage with four stops and four goals allowed.
However, Wednesday’s primary story was Rutgers goalkeeper Lexie Coldiron. Facing a Seawolves offense that nearly doubled her own team’s created chances, Coldiron played hero. Overall, the fifth-year posted a collegiate career-high — including her four years with Lafayette — 19 saves, putting the Scarlet Knights on her back in an upset win for the hosts.
With time dwindling, Rutgers led 11-9 — majorly thanks to Coldiron. The Scarlet Knights had been on top for most of the contest and looked to close things out with possession on their side and 5:32 left. However, the Seawolves began their charge back. Midfielder Isabella Caporuscio — a do-it-all player for head coach Joe Spallina — caused a turnover by Rutgers attacker Delainey Sutley, leading to a goal by attacker Riley McDonald forty seconds later to cut Stony Brook’s deficit in half.
Four minutes of scoreless lacrosse followed suit — with Coldiron and Altebrando stepping up for their respective sides to limit the scoring. With 1:02 remaining in the game, Coldiron got revenge on McDonald with a stop, but the Seawolves retained possession for what was likely their last attacking set, and, therefore, final chance to tie things up.
From the X, attacker Casey Colbert found midfielder Kylie Budke on side right. She sprinted right, sandwiching past a pair of Scarlet Knight defenders, and unleashed a shot from the doorstep of the crease across her body into the bottom left corner of the net, evening the score with 45 seconds left.
However, Budke’s heroics were slightly tainted when she received a yellow card at the end of the first overtime period in an otherwise uneventful frame. In a woman-up situation in its first possession of the following quarter, midfielder Payton Tini — cutting into the goal area — gave Rutgers the victory after spinning past defender Alexa Constant and going low on Altebrando.
Spallina did not speak to the media after the game.
Stony Brook outshot the Scarlet Knights 39 (30 shots on goal) to 26 (18 shots on goal).
The Seawolves lost the draw control battle (16-11) but were better on the ground (25-13) and finished with a +8 (16-8) turnover differential.
Attacker Charlotte Wilmoth and midifielder Alexandra Fusco tallied hat tricks to lead Stony Brook’s offense. McDonald and Budke netted a pair apiece, while Colbert dished out three assists.
Rutgers attacker Lily Dixon put up five points (three goals and two assists), while her counterpart — attacker Samantha Swanovich — also registered a hat trick.
Rutgers attacker Katie Buck ran the circle, controlling 10 draws on her own.
Stony Brook has not lost three consecutive contests since 2012. The Seawolves will hope to avoid doing so on Saturday, when they host the Towson Tigers in both teams’ Coastal Athletic Association opener. The matchup will take place on Saturday at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, with the Tigers also coming into it with a 3-2 record following a 19-8 loss to No. 12/16 Loyola. Opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m.
