University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
4-1
American
3-4
Spiders Win OT Thriller At American, 12-11
03/05/2016 | Women's Lacrosse
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Big time players made big time plays at big time moments.
Just five games into her collegiate career, freshman Mia Castagnero is showing that she's one of those big time players. The newcomer scored the second of her three goals with one second remaining in regulation and her third was the game-winner in double overtime to lead the University of Richmond women's lacrosse team to a thrilling 12-11 double overtime victory at American on Saturday afternoon.
"I'm really proud of how everyone came together when our backs were against the wall," Head Coach Alli Kwolek said. "The team stay poised and chipped away at their lead. We had individuals come up with key plays, but it really came down to the team executing together as one cohesive unit."
Castagnero has now scored at least two goals in each game this season and has a team-leading 17 on the year. Junior Natalia Chaney, who entered the year with just two career shots, scored three more goals in the win. It was the fifth time this year that she has scored two or more goals in a game. The duo, who entered the 2016 season without a collegiate goal, has combined for 32 in the Spiders' first five games.
Sophomore Kim Egizi and senior Brooke Wilson each added two goals in the win. Egizi also had four ground balls and four draw controls for Richmond. The Spiders, who entered the contest ranked second in the nation with over 16 draw controls per game, won the draw control battle 20-6.
"The only way our comeback was possible because we were able to stay connected and kept believing in each other. During all the crucial plays, our entire team had positive energy and belief and that's what allowed us to come away with the win," Castagnero said.
Egizi got the Spiders on the board first, scoring off a free position shot less than four minutes into the contest. American responded with a goal of their own, but Chaney started a barrage of Richmond goals with two of her own in a span of 70 seconds, followed by a goal from Marissa Brown to give the Spiders a 4-1 lead just over 10 minutes into the contest.
American would find the back of the net two times before the first half concluded to send Richmond into the break with a 4-3 advantage.
Both offenses broke loose in the second half with 15 combined goals between the two teams.
The teams would trade goals for the first 10 minutes of the half, but the Eagles would string together three straight and take their biggest lead of the game, 11-7, when Shauna Norris scored with 12:53 to play.
Wilson would start the Richmond rally with a goal in the 51st minute off an assist from Emily Newman to make it 11-8. Chaney brought the Spiders within two and Wilson quickly followed with a goal of her own to make it a one-goal game with just under four minutes to play.
Richmond never gave up and off a successful clear attempt got the game-tying goal when Chaney found Castagnero with a second remaining to even the score at 11-11 and send the game to overtime.
Senior goalie Michaela Aymong came up big in the first overtime with two saves to keep American off the board and push the game to a second overtime.
After another save by Aymong in the second overtime, Castganero sent everyone home with her third goal of the game, finding the back of the net with 4:19 to play in the period to give the Spiders the victory.
Richmond wraps up its four-game road swing with a trip to in-state foe James Madison on Saturday, March 12. Game time in Harrisonburg is set for 1 p.m..
