Late Goal Lifts Lax to 5-0 in NEC
Senior Mackenzy Ryan scored with five seconds left to put CCSU in front 9-8.
With five seconds left in the game senior Mackenzy Ryan cut toward the middle of the field and scored the game winning goal to give CCSU a 9-8 road victory over Bryant. Defensively, the Blue Devils (7-5, 5-0 NEC) were led by sophomore goalie Morgan Tullar who recorded 10 saves. Bryant falls to 6-5 and 3-2 in Northeast Conference play with the loss.
The victory extends CCSU's school record winning streak to six games and the 2013 team has now matched the 2012 team with a school record five NEC victories. The Blue Devils also match the school record of seven victories set by the 2011 and 2012 teams.
After falling behind 1-0, the Blue Devils responded with four straight goals to take a 4-1 lead with 17:05 left on the first half. The Blue Devils' four goals came over a five minute stretch between 21:59 and 17:05 in the first half.
Junior Amanda Toke got the Blue Devils going with an unassisted goal that tied the score at 1-1. Ryan followed two minutes later with an unassisted goal. Then with 18:24 left to play freshman Madison Hughes passed to sophomore Brigit Hogan for CCSU third goal. Senior Betsy Vendel closed the run with an unassisted goal that gave CCSU a 4-1 lead.
Toke scored her second goal with 1:09 left in the half. The free position goal stopped a 4-0 run by the Bulldogs and tied the game at 5-5.
Just seconds later Vendel found the net for her second goal of the half as the Blue Devils grabbed a 6-5 lead with 23 seconds left in the period.
Hogan's goal was her first of the season.
A goal by Bryant tied the game a 6-6, but CCSU answered with goals by freshman Elyse Malecki and Ryan. Vendel also recorded the assist on Malecki's go-ahead-goal.
Malecki's goal came just seconds after an offsides penalty ended a Bryant offensive possession. Ryan's goal came on a free position attempt and also came following a Bryant miscue, Bryant had started early on a free position attempt to turn the ball over to CCSU.
Bryant scored a pair of goals in the final four minutes to tie the game at 8-8. The Bulldogs final score came with 1:10 left in the game.
Vendel controlled the draw following Bryant's goal to give CCSU and Ryan the final shot of the game.
Senior Ali Roche had a team-high four caused turnovers and also picked up three ground balls. Freshman Falynn McCartney posted a team-high four ground balls. As a team CCSU had 14 ground balls and seven caused turnovers.
The Blue Devils return to action next Friday at Wagner. A victory over the Seahawks would give CCSU a school records for victories (8) and NEC victories (6).
