FP Goal with Two Seconds Left Lifts WCU
from press release
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Claire Grimwood
scored on a free position attempt with two seconds left in the game
to lift No. 5 West Chester University to a 12-11 victory over No. 3
Limestone in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women’s
Lacrosse Championships at Vonnie Gros Field on a beautiful Saturday
afternoon.
West Chester (18-1) advances to the national semifinals for the
eighth time in the 10-year history of the tournament and will face
Lock Haven (17-1) on Saturday, May 22 at Clark Field in Gettysburg,
Pa. Adelphi, a 15-10 winner over Stonehill in the other first round
contest, will take on C.W. Post in the other national semifinal
that Saturday. The winners meet on Sunday, May 23 for the Division
II women’s lacrosse championship. That title game will be
aired on CBS College Sports Network at 3 p.m.
Limestone (18-2) ends its season with a loss to West Chester for
the second time in the last three years. The Golden Rams defeated
the Saints en route to its 2008 national championship.
West Chester held possession of the ball over the final two
minutes of the contest, working the ball around for an opportunity.
Finally, that opportunity came with five seconds left when a
Limestone defender fouled Grimwood on her drive to the cage and the
Rams’ junior midfielder was awarded a free position.
“I wanted everybody to have a touch and get into the flow
and then go for the goal,” West Chester head coach Ginny
Martino said. “They did a really nice job and slowed things
down. Fortunately, we got a call in our favor at the
end.”
Grimwood buried the shot high over the left shoulder of Limestone
goalkeeper Rachelle McLellan with two ticks left and began a
celebration rant in front of West Chester’s sideline that
would have made any professional soccer club jealous.
“It hurts to lose on a free-position,” Limestone head
coach Steve Tucker said. “You don’t want to lose
anyway. But, with five seconds left, we thought we were going into
overtime when West Chester made a couple good passes and got the
ball inside.”
“Claire had been draining them all day,” senior
attacker Nicole Haines said. “I had no doubt that she was
going to convert. She had an amazing game today. Of all the people,
I’d rather have it in her hands to finish it.”
Haines played an integral part in West Chester’s three-goal
comeback over a five-minute span midway through the second half.
The first team All-PSAC East selection assisted on a pair of goals
by Jackie Hoover and then finished off a four-goal spurt with her
second tally of the afternoon that erased a 10-7 deficit and put
the Golden Rams in front, 11-10.
“One spark can amp this team up and take it to the next
level,” Grimwood commented. “(Nicole) did a great job,
and everyone else fed off of that.”
“She keeps ‘wowing’ you,” Martino lauded
about her senior attacker. “You can tell she’s a senior
because she isn’t going down without a fight. She is so smart
about what to do with the ball and when to do it. She has matured
into her game.”
Hoover finished with four goals for West Chester. Grimwood netted
a hat trick and added an assist for a four-point game. Haines
posted a pair of assists to go along with her two goals as well.
Shannon Hayes contributed three assists to the cause, and Lauren
Glassey scored twice. Devon Lotkowski scored a goal while Julia
Walsh added an assist.
Chelsea Treat led Limestone with four goals, and Katie Ilot scored
twice and registered three assists for a game-high five points.
Renee Albro also had a hat trick.
NOTES: West Chester is now 10-5 all-time in the NCAA Division II
Women’s Lacrosse Tournament … the Golden Rams are
making their eighth appearance in the national semifinals …
West Chester lost to Lock Haven, 16-6, in the PSAC Championship
Game on May 1 for its lone loss of the 2010 campaign … the
Golden Rams have never lost a national semifinal contest (7-0) in
the NCAA Tournament.
