HAVERFORD, Pa. — Trailing 12-9 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, host Haverford came all the way back to defeat Washington in extra time, 13-12, Wednesday night in Centennial Conference women’s lacrosse.
Brooke Epstein scored the golden goal 1 minute, 5 seconds into overtime on an extra-player opportunity; 36 seconds earlier, a Washington player had been issued a green card for a push from behind.
Haverford improved to 6-1 in the conference and 11-5 overall.
Washington dropped to 4-3, 10-5.
Both schools already had clinched a berth in the five-school Centennial Conference tournament that begins April 29.
Bella Gattuso’s first-quarter hat trick helped to stake the nationally ranked Fords to a 5-2 lead after 15 minutes.
Mia Salvatierra and Malery Andrews each scored twice in the second quarter for the Shore ladies, who closed the half on a 5-1 run to pull out in front, 7-6, on Piper Evans’ goal off a pass from MaryCate Anson with 22 seconds remaining.
Washington and Haverford traded goals in the third quarter to keep it a one-goal game, 10-9. Lis Braswell’s man-up goal with 2:55 remaining in the frame broke the 9-9 tie.
Evans opened the fourth-quarter scoring with back-to-back goals, 4:47 apart, to extend Washington’s lead to 12-9 with 4:52 to play.
Haverford closed out regulation with three goals in a row — Kylie McNamara at 3:54, Daniela Martini at 1:38 and Mikelle Smith with just 34 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Washington controlled the draw to open the 5-minute extra frame, but Alexis Brown scooped up the ground ball after a blocked shot to give possession back to Haverford. Seconds later, a Washington player was sent off the field with a green card for a push from behind on Brown.
The Fords capitalized on the man-up opportunity when Epstein sent a shot past keeper Maddy Kissinger [14 saves] with 3:55 remaining.
Epstein was one of four Haverford players to score multiple goals, led by Gattuso with four and Smith with three.
Washington also had four players with multiple goals — Evans with four, Salvatierra with three, and Mac Grogan [three assists] and Andrews with two apiece.
Salvatierra, a senior attacker from Bel Air and Fallston High School, is now second in program history with 264 points [162 goals, 102 assists]. She passed 2004 graduate Janet Studdiford [173-89-262] with her second goal of the game in the opening minute of the second quarter.
Sarah Coste ’91 is the program leader with 282 points on 225 goals and 57 assists.
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Washington will host conference rival Gettysburg [6-1 CC, 11-5] tomorrow to wrap up the regular season. The opening draw is at 1 p.m.
The Fords will travel to Hood Trophy rival Swarthmore for a noon matchup.
Haverford can clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with a win at Swarthmore combined with either a Franklin & Marshall victory over Muhlenberg or a Washington upset of No. 11-ranked Gettysburg.
F&M is the three-time defending conference champion.
In the coaches preseason poll, Gettysburg received six first-place votes and 62 points to finish atop the Centennial. F&M received the other three first-place votes and 59 points.
Haverford [50 points], Muhlenberg [43] and Washington [27] also were projected to make the five-school tournament.
