Alex Weber Reitz's overtime goal gave Drew a 14-13 win over No. 16 Lycoming in an absolutely thrilling women's lacrosse game at Ranger Stadium on Saturday. The Rangers scored twice in the final 70 of regulation to push the Warriors into overtime where Courtney Cunningham and Weber Reitz's free position goals won the game for the Rangers. The win puts Drew into second place in the MAC, just ahead of Lycoming.

These same two teams played twice last season, each game coming down to one goal in the final seconds. As one of the marquee match-ups of the MAC season, today's contest surpassed even last year's thrillers for dramatic endings.

Drew built an early 4-1 lead as Cunningham got off to a hot start with two goals and an assist in the first 22 minutes of play. Lycoming pulled one back at the five minute mark as Megan Wallenhorst scored from eight meters. A Sarah Wingerden goal made it 4-3 Drew, before Allie Bailly and Sam Silver scored for a 6-3 lead with ninty second remaining in the half. The Warriors got two late goals from Kelly Mack and the score at the break was a slim 6-5 lead for the Rangers.

The Warriors came out to play to start the second half scoring the first three goals to take an 8-6 lead. Wallenhorst and Wingerden each tallied in the run. Cunningham, bidding to become the MAC's scoring champ for the second consecutive season, score the next two goals, both unassisted, and then set up Allie Bailly for a beautiful goal with 16:48 left and a 9-8 lead. Lyco fought back again, scoring the next three through Mack, Justine Titko and Megan McIntyre for an 11-9 lead with 3:38 to play.

The Warriors have been one of the best teams in the country this season, having lost just once all year to current MAC leaders Elizabethtown, so the 11-9 lead with so little time remaining seemed like too steep a hill to climb. But a bit of fortune added the Rangers as Alex Weber Reitz broke free on goal only to have her shot saved by Lyco keeper Kristina Peacock. Somehow after what seemed like an eternity, the ball slipped past Peacock and trickled into the net to pull Drew within one.

With under two minutes remaining, the Warriors struck again as McIntyre scored for a 12-10 lead. This time it was Bailly who brought Drew back as her incredible individual effort culminated in a goal with just seventy seconds left.

With just 26 seconds left junior Lindsey Perno picked a good time to score her only goal of the game as she took a great feed from Bailly and tucked it away for the tying goal.

In overtime, the Warriors scored first as McIntyre again found the net. The clock ticked away as Drew fought to regain possession. Cunningham to a pass and drove to the net only to get fouled. The senior calmly put away the resulting FPS and the two teams headed to the second OT period tied at 13-13.

With 1:57 left, Weber Reitz became the hero as she scored on another free position shot for Drew. Liz Law grabbed the resulting draw and Drew played keep away for much of the remaining time as the clock slowly ran down to the final horn.

At 7-1 in the MAC, Drew now sits second in the conference and has two Top 20 wins on its resume. The season gets no easier though as a trip to Widener and hosting Messiah are to come.

2007-04-22