Women’s Lacrosse Let Halftime Lead Slip Away

After enduring a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season, the Colgate women’s lacrosse team rebounded with a winning streak of its own. The team took its four-game winning streak into last weekend, looking to run the streak of wins to six.

The Raiders traveled south to Bucknell on Saturday for a showdown against the Bison. Colgate entered the game atop the Patriot League standings, while Bucknell was winless in league play, and the women had no desire to leave the top spot. The team continued its great play as of late, dominating all phases of the game en route to a 13-3 blowout victory over the Bison.

Leading the way for Colgate was senior goalkeeper Sue Bielamowicz, who recorded eight saves in the game and allowed a career-low three goals. For her impressive performance against Bucknell, combined with her effort against Oregon earlier last week, Bielamowicz earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time this season.

On the offensive end, junior Megan Janson had a career day, scoring four goals to pace the Raiders. Additionally, senior Anne Coomber added three goals, while classmates Katie McVeigh and Kelly Winning contributed a goal and an assist apiece.

Riding high after their fifth consecutive victory, the Raider women traveled to Albany on Tuesday for a non-league game against the Great Danes, a team that had never defeated Colgate.

Unfortunately, the team learned that all good things must come to an end against the Great Danes. In a hard-fought contest, Albany scored the game’s final goal to claw its way to a thrilling 10-9 victory.

After taking a 5-3 lead into halftime and grabbing an 8-4 lead with only 18 minutes remaining, it looked as the team’s six straight victory was well within Colgate’s grasp. The Great Danes, however, were not intimidated by the deficit and continued to play hard.

Albany scored five consecutive goals in a 5:49 span to take a 9-8 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the second half, but Colgate did not give up either. Janson knotted the game at nine with only 1:35 remaining in regulation with an unassisted tally, and it looked like the game might be headed for overtime. However, Albany’s Sara Spillett scored with just 19 seconds remaining, sealing the Great Danes’ first victory over the Raiders and ending Colgate’s winning streak at five games.

Despite the tough loss, Colgate still remains undefeated in Patriot League play and 7-5 overall.

“I am very pleased with our winning run,” senior co-captain Heidi Ross said.”I am looking forward tomeeting the two other undefeated Patriot League teams [Holy Cross and American].”

Ross and the Raiders will have to wait a little while before they do battle with the Crusaders and Eagles; the Raiders will face off with another Patriot League foe, Lehigh, tomorrow afternoon at Tyler’s Field.