The Roanoke College women opened the NCAA Division III lacrosse tournament with a bang Saturday in Gettysburg, PA, but fell to the host team in overtime on Sunday to see their season come to a sudden end.
Gettysburg, the fourth ranked Division III team in the nation, hosted the four team field and the Maroons opened by destroying Bryn Athyn in their opening game, 23-4. The Maroons jumped all over the Colonial States Athletic Conference champions, taking a 10-0 lead after one quarter and cruising to the win.
Salem High grad Lilly Blair, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, finished with four scores and an assist while Emerson Foster scored four times with two assists for the Maroons. Grace Koutouzis added three goals with Sophia Chickering claiming 12 draw controls. Kyleigh Chickering got the start and win in goal.
That set up a Sunday game with host Gettysburg with the prize being a spot in the nation’s final 16. The Maroons led 6-3 at the half but the host Bullets pulled to within one at 7-6 after three quarters.
Roanoke scored to start the fourth to make it 8-6. However, the Bullets closed regulation on a 2-0 run and sent the NCAA second round matchup into overtime. With 2:40 left in the first extra period, Gettysburg got free in the Roanoke zone and ended the tie, and the game, 9-8.
Foster scored three times for RC with Chase adding two goals and an assist. Sydney Harrison and Salem’s Libby Bowman added scores while Blair had a goal and an assist. Kyleigh Chickering picked up five ground balls and caused two turnovers while recording seven saves in goal.
With the loss the Maroons concluded their season at 16-5 while Gettysburg advanced with a 17-3 record. The NCAA Final Four will be held in Salem at Kerr Stadium on the campus of Roanoke College on May 28 and 29.