KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's lacrosse team opened its season with a 17-16 defeat to Kalamazoo College on Saturday. The Blugolds nearly erased a nine-goal deficit in the fourth quarter, but their rally ran out of time.
Kalamazoo (2-1) led 17-8 early in the fourth quarter, but UW-Eau Claire (0-1) scored eight straight goals over the rest of the period to slash the deficit to one. Time ran out before the Blugolds could get the tying goal though.
The game was the Blugolds' first under new head coach
Michael Rhodovi.
Samantha Burns (Jr. – Mahtomedi, Minn.),
Alexie Romanelli (Jr. – Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) and
Reegan Werner (So. – Farmington, Minn.) all scored three goals apiece to lead the Blugolds.
Jess Stiller (Fr. – Evergreen, Colo.) added two goals.
The Blugolds took an early lead after Romanelli scored only 22 seconds into the contest. However, the Hornets scored back-to-back goals from there to take the lead.
Paige Kiani (Fr. – New Brighton, Minn./Irondale) levelled the score with a goal at the 3:24 mark in the first quarter, but Kalamazoo scored six straight goals from there to surge ahead 8-2.
UW-Eau Claire started trimming the deficit in the late stages of the second quarter.
Paige Williams (So. – Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview), Romanelli and Burns all scored to trim Kalamazoo's lead to 9-5 at halftime.
The Hornets widened their lead by outscoring the Blugolds 7-3 in the third quarter.
Devon Crews (So. – St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit),
Raegan Valois (So. – Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) and Werner all scored for UW-Eau Claire, but the Blugolds trailed 16-8 entering the final period.
Kalamazoo added another goal early in the fourth period, but it was all Blugolds from there. Stiller, Werner and Burns all scored back-to-back goals each to make it a 17-14 game with under two and a half minutes left.
Capri Meyer (Fr. – Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) and Romanelli both added a goal each to make it 17-16 with a minute and a half left, but the Blugolds couldn't fully close the gap in the final 90 seconds.
Romanelli assisted a pair of goals and finished with five points.
Lily Zygowicz (So. – Lafayette, Colo./Centauras) also had two assists.
Alexandria Shea (Jr. – Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) made a pair of saves in net.
The Blugolds outshot the Hornets 36-22. They completed 11 of 15 clear attempts and nabbed 27 ground balls.
UW-Eau Claire will look to pick up its first win of the season when it visits Marian on Saturday, March 9. Game time is 3 p.m.
