WHITTIER, CA – Whittier College (1-5) overcame a 6-3 deficit with four-consecutive goals in the final 12 minutes of play to defeat Saint Joseph's College (1-1), 7-6, in a non-conference women's lacrosse contest on Sunday afternoon.
The Monks held a 3-1 advantage after the first period, as a goal from Cassie Diplock (Augusta, Maine) and a pair of Krystal Walsh (Springvale, Maine) markers provided the visitors with a two-goal edge heading into intermission.
Senior attack Haley Kleine (Berkeley, Calif.) opened the second-half scoring with a free-position goal to make it a 3-2 game with 27:24 remaining, but the Monks answered with three of the game's following four goals, as Diplock netted her second tally of the game seven minutes later and Anneka Adame (San Diego, Calif.) potted back to back markers to extend the SJC lead to 6-3 with 12:50 left.
As it played out, the Monks would not find the back of the net again and the Poets managed to punch home four straight goals to close out the contest. Senior midfielder Shaina Denny (Seal Beach, Calif.) played a hand in three of the scores, netting the first at the 12:03 mark before assisting on Lily Baxter (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Rachel Lansner (Mission Viejo, Calif.) goals, with the latter knotting the game at six apiece with 7:47 on the clock.
Saint Joseph's had several chances to reclaim the lead a minute later, as Walsh and Mary Leasure (South Portland, Maine/McAuley) both sent shots on target in a matter of six seconds, but Whitter keeper Nicole Yorba (Poway, Calif.) turned away both attempts to preserve the tie.
With the clock winding down and the game seemingly headed for extra play, Poets senior Meesha Robinson (Redondo Beach, Calif.) managed to clinch the victory with an unassisted tally with just 26 seconds left.
Senior goalkeeper Haley Nason (Saco, Maine) recorded 10 saves in a losing effort while Yorba posted nine stops to help the Poets notch their first win of the 2014 season.
Saint Joseph's will play its final game of the team's West Coast swing on Tuesday when the Monks face Occidental College at 2:00 PM.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
