COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State (6-2, 0-1 American Lacrosse Conference) women's lacrosse team overcame an early 4-2 California (5-3) lead in the second half to win, 9-8, in overtime on a Keri Yourick (So., Castle Rock, Colo.) goal. Yourick had two goals and an assist in the game while Kristen Slahor (Jr., Ellicott City, Md.) had a game-high three goals for the Buckeyes. Leading California with two goals each were Liz Reifsnyder and Madeleine Dale.

California opened the scoring in the first half with a goal by Danni Zuralow at 29:06. The Golden Bears took a 2-0 lead at 11:50 with a Dale goal, assisted by Alyse Kennedy. OSU's Slahor, with an assist from Yourick, scored at 9:32 to make it 2-1. At 4:11, the Buckeyes tied the game at two with a Kendall Gysin (So., Noblesville, Ind.) goal. California took the lead back on Dale's second goal at 1:41 to hold a 3-2 lead at halftime.

The Golden Bears opened the second half with a Cristen Andrews score at 22:41 to take a 4-2 lead. Slahor scored at 20:37 to cut the lead to one at 4-3. Sixteen seconds later (20:21), Slahor scored her third goal of the game, assisted by Rachel Hawes, (So., Eldersburg, Md.) to tie the score at four. At 19:19, a goal by Jessica Patane (Jr., Farmingdale, N.Y.), assisted by Gysin, gave Ohio State a 5-4 lead. Rachael Cornicello (Fr., Lynbrook, N.Y.) scored at 19:00 to give the Buckeyes a 6-4 lead.

The Golden Bears responded with a goal by Liz Reifsnyder at 17:50 to make it 6-5. Reifsnyder, assisted by Laura Cavallo, scored at 15:30 tied the game at six. California took a one goal lead (7-6) with a Kennedy goal at 14:26, assisted by Jocelyn Paul. At 8:07 on an eight-meter attempt, Amanda Shimp (Jr., Endicott, N.Y.) tied the game at seven. Kelly Haggerty (Fr., West Chester, Pa.) gave Ohio State an 8-7 lead at 5:11 on an eight-meter attempt. California tied the game at eight on an Elizabeth T Jahp goal, assisted by Cavallo, to end scoring in regulation time.

In the first half of the overtime period, the Buckeyes controlled the draw. Each team turned the ball over to give Ohio State possession. Two Buckeye shots were saved by California goalie Hilary Lynch before Yourick scored at 1:31 to give the Buckeyes a 9-8 lead. The Buckeyes controlled the draw to close out the half. Ohio State controlled the draw in the second half of the first overtime period. The Buckeyes lost the possession allowing California a shot with 41 seconds left that was wide. Possession went to Ohio State as the Buckeyes ran out the clock for a 9-8 victory.

Ohio State's Kristen Gilwee (So., Hunt Valley, Md.) got the win in goal making 13 saves and giving up eight goals. California's Lynch took the loss making nine saves and giving up nine goals.

Ohio State returns to the road next week when they play in the ALC/ACC Challenge hosted by Penn State. The Buckeyes will play third-ranked Maryland Friday at 5:00 p.m. with host Penn State facing second-ranked North Carolina at 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, Ohio State will play North Carolina at Noon and Penn State will face Maryland at 3:00 p.m.

2007-04-01