SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The eighth-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team fell in heartbreaking fashion to the No. 7 Eagles of Boston College at Arlotta Stadium, 12-11, Saturday afternoon.
In a tight defensive challenge the two teams battled wire to wire Saturday with the visiting ACC foe Eagles taking the final edge behind a late free position set up in the Irish end.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish and Eagles played a hard defensive first quarter with both sides shutting down the opposition until late in the first 15. BC scored twice late in the opening quarter as the Irish faced a 2-0 deficit heading into the second frame.
The Irish came out firing in the second quarter, as Wolak, Shanahan and Choma quickly found the back of the net to take a 3-2 lead three minutes into the frame. The two teams then traded a series of goals, as the Irish trailed 6-5 heading into the halftime break.
Wolak scored her second of the game to tie the game 6-6 early in the third quarter.
The Eagles beat Callahan shortly after Wolak’s game-tying tally to make it 7-6 halfway through the third quarter but it was all Irish after that as the home team carried a 10-7 lead into the final quarter, courtesy of goals from Ahern, Choma, and MK Doherty.
Doherty’s goal with three seconds left in the third kept momentum in Notre Dame’s favor as they held the Eagles scoreless through the first five minutes of the fourth.
Wolak’s goal in the fourth gave the Irish the 11-7 lead and was her seventh hat trick performance of the season.
The Eagles scored off the free position in the fourth quarter cut the Irish lead to three with 9:21 to play.
Boston College went on to tie things up with 2:30 left before being awarded a free position with 12 seconds to play in regulation. Despite the ensuing shot sailing high, the Eagles regained possession and beat Callahan for the 12-11 final.
STAT OF THE GAME
Three women hit century milestones in the contest. With her first save of the game, Callahan picked up her 100th career stop, meanwhile Dorney’s ground ball in the first quarter was career No. 100 for the graduate student. The Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., native finished the game with four ground balls.
Ahern, who led the team with four points off three goals and an assist, recorded her 200th career point Saturday. The senior now boasts 202 points behind 143 goals and 59 assists.
ND NOTES
- Two individuals recorded hat tricks for the women Saturday as Madison Ahern and Jackie Wolak both tallied three goals. With her first goal of the game, and second point of the day, Ahern eclipsed the 200 career point mark.
- Kasey Choma also boasted multiple goals in the loss as the senior beat the BC goalkeeper twice for her 36th and 37th tallies of the year.
- With three goals against the Eagles, Ahern now leads all Irish attackers with 38 goals on the year.
- Lilly Callahan recorded 11 saves on the afternoon to bring her season total to 89. All-time, she boasts 110 career saves.
- Hannah Dorney’s four ground balls was a team-best, tied with Choma and Grace Weigand. In total, the Irish picked up 20 ground balls and caused six turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back on the road Monday with a battle at Butler. First draw is set for 2 p.m. and will be aired live from Indianapolis on FloSports.