LEWISTON, Maine -- The 15th-ranked Colby College women's lacrosse team scored three unanswered goals in the final nine minutes to turn an 11-9 deficit into a 12-11 victory over Bates College in New England Small College Athletic Conference play Wednesday night.

The first goal of the night for Colby junior Lauren Strazzula (Norwell, Mass.) with 1:52 left in regulation proved to be the game-winner for the No. 15 Mules (5-3, 2-2 NESCAC).

That followed back-to-back unassisted goals scored just 42 seconds apart by Colby junior Becky Julian (South Windsor, Conn.) that tied the game at 11-11 with 7:58 left in the game.

Julian led the Mules with four goals, while junior Kate Sheridan (Hingham, Mass.) added two goals and two assists. Sophomore Amy Campbell (North Andover, Mass.) and junior Heather Nickerson (Falmouth, Mass.) also scored two goals apiece.

Bates (3-5, 1-4 NESCAC) received four goals and an assist from junior attacker Caroline Thomas (Barrington, R.I.). Sophomores Morgan Maciewicz (Marblehead, Mass.) and Avery Pierce (Weston, Mass.) each added two goals and one assist.

Bates first-year goalie Mara Krueger (St. Louis, Mo.) made eight saves, while Colby starting goalie Keryn Meierdiercks (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) made four saves before giving way to first-year Sarah Warnke (Lakeville, Conn.), who came up with three saves and earned the victory.

Bates came out of the first half with a 7-6 lead, after seizing leads of 5-2 and 6-3. After Campbell tied the game at 7-7 in the 40th minute of the game, Thomas scored back-to-back goals and Maciewicz made it 10-7 Bates with 15 minutes to play.

Colby became its comeback with unassisted goals by Sheridan and Nickerson scored at the 46:34 and 48:52 marks of the game, closing the Bates lead to 10-9.

Pierce scored off of a rebounded save to bump the lead to 11-9 with 9:23 left in the game. But Julian converted a free-position goal to close it to 11-10 with 8:40 left to play, and tied it at 11-11 with 7:58 left in the game, her fourth unassisted goal of the night.

After Strazzula's goal gave Colby its first lead since 1-0 with 1:52 to play, Julian won the ensuing draw control and the Mules were able to play keep away for most of the remainder of the clock.

2008-04-03