Salem, Va. - The fourth-ranked Colby Women's Lacrosse team took on top-seeded Middlebury in the NCAA Division III Semifinals on Friday at Kerr Stadium. It was a well-fought battle for both squads, providing fans plenty of entertainment beyond the expected 60 minutes of regulation. The Panthers sank the deciding score early in overtime to squeak out a 13-12 victory and advance to the national championship game.
The afternoon affair began with Middlebury taking an early lead, ending the first quarter ahead 5-2. Colby responded with a strong second frame, narrowing the deficit to 7-5 at the halftime break. The third quarter saw both teams exchanging tallies, setting the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter.
Gennie Littlejohn brought the Mules within one score with just under three minutes to play off a free position shot, and the Mules regained possession with a minute to play. A turnover with 45 seconds left appeared to have sunk Colby's final hopes, but first-year
Gisele Uva made a remarkable play intercepting Middlebury's clear attempt. After a give-and-go with
Olivia Kraus, Uva one-timed the return feed for her first collegiate score, sending the battle into overtime.
In the extra period, goalkeeper
Jillian Kane made the biggest stop of her life, turning away a free position shot by Hope Shue, keeping the Mules in the battle. Colby was unable to muster a scoring opportunity, and on Middlebury's next possession the well experienced Panthers were able to find the back of the net, sending them to the finals for the fourth straight year.
Julia Jardina led the Mules with five goals on the day to end her record breaking season with 71 goals total.
Ainsley Dion contributed two goals in the contest followed by five different Mules with a goal apiece. Goalkeepers
Jillian Kane and
Gigi Peloso combined for six saves on the afternoon.
When asked, "what made this team a little bit different then some of the other ones?" Head Coach
Karen Henning said "I think it's that we keep building on who we were before. We're not satisfied, we're not content, we want to figure out ways to be better with each other, for each other.
"Everyone was truly bought in, I don't think I could have of asked any more of the seniors in particular because they knew the standard and lived it, but then to have them bring those first-years into the core, into the culture along the way... they wouldn't have been able to perform out their if these guys did not believe in them. It doesn't work that way."
Colby finishes their stellar season with a 17-4 record, the most wins in program history, and their first final four appearance. Be on the lookout for the team next spring.
