SCHENECTADY, NY – Sophomore Caitlin Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA/King Philip Reg.) scored with 2:47 left in the game to give Union (5-2, 4-0) the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner in a 14-13 win over St. Lawrence (2-5, 1-3) in Liberty League women's lacrosse action at Frank Bailey Field. The Dutchwomen fought back from a five-goal deficit with just over 10 minutes remaining in the second half to upend the Saints, who upset Skidmore the previous day, and pick up their fourth straight league win. Cuozzo and Alexandra Toney (Bayville, NY/Locust Valley) paced the home team with four goals while Alanna Waters led St. Lawrence with four goals. Cuozzo also chipped in with two assists to lead all players with six points.

 

It appeared Union was on its way to another decisive win when they opened up with a 3-0 lead just 2:26 into the game. Toney scored the first two goals for the Dutchwomen. The first came after her team won the opening draw; her second was off a feed from Keri Messa (Saratoga Springs, NY/Hotchkiss School). Liz Zamore (South Hero, VT/Essex) scored the third goal for her ninth of the season and first of two on the afternoon.

 

Things are not always what they seem though and after the two teams traded goals with Alanna Waters putting St. Lawrence on the board and Robyn Ross (Newton, MA/Newton North) responding for Union, the Saints put up three straight to tie the game at 4-4. Sofie Malinowski and Meg Clement both scored on free position shots as St. Lawrence pressured the Union goal and was able to draw the whistle. Clement then evened things up at 14:06 with her 10^th goal of the season.

 

Union scored the next two goals within a span of 36 seconds to regain its lead with strikes from Zamore and Toney. St. Lawrence responded once again, this time putting up four unanswered, taking its first lead with a Kathryn Durki goal at 27:50. Patricia Ball capped off the drive with 34 seconds left in the first half off an assist from Durki. Union got a much-needed goal from Stephanie Cronan (Marblehead, MA/Marblehead) with 22 seconds left to make it a one-goal game.

 

Goalkeeping on both ends came up big in the closing minutes of the opening half. Cynthia Saul made a stop with 1:38 left to prevent Union from tying the game at seven. On the other side Stephanie Burlton (Coquitlam, BC/Milton Academy) made a save on Ball with six seconds left and then stopped Malinowski on a free position shot from point-blank range as time expired.

 

St. Lawrence opened up the second half with another four-goal scoring spree. Waters put up the first two with assists on both goals to Malinowski. Patricia Ball capped off the drive with her second of the season at 18:02 to make it 12-7.

 

With 10:27 left to play Union went to work, winning the next two draw controls which led to goals by Cuozzo and Cronan. Clement got one back for St. Lawrence on a free position shot but the Dutchwomen reeled off five straight to complete the comeback.

 

Toney's fourth goal of the game knotted the score at 12-12 with 3:11 left to play. Union won the ensuing draw and marched down the field to set up Cuozzo's game-winner.

 

Malinowski finished with two goals and two assist for St. Lawrence. Ball also put up two goals and Clement had three to join Waters with multiple scores.

 

Union held an 18-11 advantage in draw controls and had 33 ground balls. St. Lawrence compiled 19 ground balls on the day.

 

Burlton made nine saves in the win for the Dutchwomen. She replaced starting goalie Rachel Beckman (Needham, MA/Needham) midway through the first half. Saul went the distance for the Saints with 12 saves on 26 shots on goal.

 

Union will be on the road for its next three games beginning with a trip to William Smith on Friday, April 7 for a 4:00 p.m. showdown.