Box Score TROY, N.Y.—The William Smith College lacrosse team fell to Rensselaer 9-8 in double-overtime this afternoon at Renwyck Field. The Herons slip to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the Liberty League, while the Engineers improve to 4-3 on the year and 1-1 in the conference.
The Herons battled back from a four-goal deficit in the second half to force overtime, capped by senior
Molly Fitzgerald's game-tying goal with 8:52 to play in regulation, but would not get closer. First-year goalie
Jesse Wilson stopped two RPI shots in the final five seconds of the first overtime to force a second, but Stephanie Caouette netted the game-winner off an assist from Sam Fennessey just 39 seconds into the sudden death period to give the Engineers their first victory over William Smith.
Fitzgerald finished with two goals and an assist, while sophomores
Kathryn Gillan and
Rosie Scheibel added two goals apiece for William Smith. Alissa Peterson led Rensselaer with three goals, while Caouette scored twice.
Peterson netted her first goal of the day less than three minutes into the game to give the Engineers an early 1-0 lead, but the Herons answered with three straight, thanks to first-year
Marissa Potter, Fitzgerald, and Gillan, grabbing a 3-1 advantage with less than 22 minutes to play in the half.
RPI exploded for six unanswered tallies, scored by six different players, over the next 15 minutes to take back the lead, 7-3. Following a goal from junior
Cassie Findlay with 5:15 to go, the hosts held a 7-4 halftime edge.
Peterson started the second-half scoring at the 25:21 mark, scoring the lone Engineer goal of the stanza. Scheibel tallied back-to-back goals to get the Herons within two, 8-6, and Gillan found the back of the net to cut the lead to one with 12:04 remaining. Fitzgerald evened the game at 8-all shortly after.
Rensselaer outshot the Herons 30-22 and held a 29-24 advantage in ground balls. William Smith came out on top in draw controls, 12-9.
Wilson finished with 10 saves for the Herons, while Arianna Hood stopped eight shots for the Engineers.
The Herons will be back in action on April 9 when they host Clarkson at 4 p.m. on McCooey Field.
