Western Connecticut Uses Late Surge to Defeat Women's Lacrosse

Danbury, Conn. - In a game with few offensive opportunities for the first 50 minutes, the Western Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team scored three goals in the final five minutes to claim an 8-5 non-conference victory over the visitors from Framingham State University Wednesday night at the Westside Athletic Complex.

Providing the offensive spark for the Colonials was junior Devon Edwards (Islip, NY) with five goals and one assist.  Senior Brianna Mitterando (Mastic Beach, NY) added two goals, followed by junior Kelly Brennan (Hicksville, NY) who scored once.

For Framingham State, junior Chelsea Temple (Rutland, VT) scored twice, followed by single goals from junior Brittany McClean (Walpole, Mass.), senior Kerry Kiley (Mansfield, Mass.), and sophomore Lauren Kent (Framingham, Mass.).

Western opened the game with a ball-control offense that kept the ball in the Framingham State end of the field for the first 15 minutes of play.  Edwards got the Colonials on the board in the fifth minute when she converted a free-position opportunity, and Mitterando followed two minutes later with a free-position goal of her own.  The Colonials continued to dominate time of possession, but with just under five minutes to play in the half, Kiley took advantage of a Western turnover and raced the length of the field to narrow the Colonial lead to 2-1.  The score remained 2-1 after 30 minutes of play.

The beginning of the second half was played much like the first, with Western controlling the ball in the Framingham State end of the field for several minutes at a time.  With the score still 2-1 after 12 minutes had elapsed in the second half, Framingham State took advantage of a Western foul to score the equalizer and tie the score at 2-2.  Edwards put the Colonials back on top, but Temple quickly answered for the Rams for a 3-all tie.

After a combined six goals were scored in the game's first 50 minutes, seven goals were scored in the final ten.  Edwards convert another free-position for a 4-3 lead with 9:22 remaining, and Mitterando gave Western a two-goal lead one minute later.  Framingham State then scored back to back goals to even the score at 5-5 with under five minutes remaining.

The final five minutes belonged to Western.  Edwards scored an unassisted goal as Western reclaimed the lead at 6-5, and with 1:23 remaining on the clock, Brennan scored to give the Colonials a little breathing room.  Edwards iced the game with another free-position goal in the game's final minute, giving Western its first three-goal lead of the game and making the final margin 8-5.

Sophomore goalkeeper Karli Portnoy (Sea Cliff, NY) made eight saves for the Colonials, seven in the second half, to claim the victory for Western, while Rebecca Rixan (Stow, MA) recorded three saves in defeat for Framingham State.

With the win, Western stands at 7-3 on the season, while Framingham State falls to 4-4.  The Colonials return to action on Wednesday, April 11, when they host Vassar at the Westside Athletic Complex at 5 p.m., while the Rams host UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Release courtesy of WCSU Sports Information.