It was a busy week for Colgate women’s lacrosse. First, they traveled all the way to Fresno, California on Saturday, March 12 to face off against Fresno State. Unfortunately, the Raiders started their week with a loss, but balanced out their record on the 18th when they returned back to Hamilton and beat American University on their home turf.

Although Fresno State ultimately took the win, Colgate played a tough game, with goals and strong performances from several Raiders.

The Fresno State Bulldogs began the game with a 2-0 lead before the Raiders made it onto the board. That shutout ended when senior attack Isabel Kreitler scored her 15th goal of the season to give Colgate their first point. 

Fresno took the lead with three more goals in just over a minute, but Colgate did just the same as three Raiders scored within about a minute and a half.  From there, junior attack Kristen Brigagliano, first-year midfielder Alissa Masini and first-year attack Payton Gabriel were responsible for taking the game to 5-4.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs scored another two goals right before halftime, making the score 7-4 at the half.

First-year attack Lindsay West scored the first goal of the second half for the Raiders.  Sophomore midfielder Charlotte Redican and Kreitler also scored, but so did the Bulldogs. Fresno was still leading 13-7 with 7:29 left in the game, but Colgate was not ready to give up. Redican and first-year midfielder Noelle Patterson gave the Raiders two more goals toward the end of the game, both assisted by sophomore attack/midfielder Tara Atkinson.  The Raiders fought until the end, but were unable to defeat the Bulldogs, and ultimately lost 9-14.

Six days later, Colgate took on American University at home.  It was a great day for the Raiders, with a 15-6 win and several records earned.

The Eagles scored the first goal, holding the lead for most of the first half, but the Raiders kept up, not allowing it to become more than a one goal game for more than a few minutes.  Four Raiders scored in the first half, including Kreitler who tallied two goals, and junior midfielder Haley O’Hanlon who had two assists. Krietler’s second goal came 7seven seconds before the half, giving the Raiders a 5-4 lead as they left the field for halftime.  

The Raiders dominated the second half, scoring three goals in the first ten minutes, and outscoring the Eagles 10-2. Kreitler scored another two goals in the second, as did O’Hanlon. Brigagliano scored three, picking up her first career hat trick. 

With absolutely no loss of energy towards the end of the game, the Raiders scored three goals with just five minutes left.  First-year Kate Kelly started the three-goal streak with her first career goal, and Atkinson ended it with a goal with four seconds left in the game.

Kreitler joined O’Hanlon in the 100-point club with her four goals, and five points total on Saturday.  

Colgate’s impressive 15-6 win over American and loss to Fresno state this week brings them to an overall record of 4-3, and their Patriot League record moving to 1-0. Next Saturday, March 25, the Raiders will take on the Lafayette Leopards in Hamilton.