EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 25, 2023) – Graduate student Erin Anderson sent the home fans away happy with an overtime goal, as Mount St. Mary's women's lacrosse punctuated its return to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 15-14 overtime victory over the Niagara Purple Eagles.
 
Anderson tied for a team high in points with five, adding a second goal along with three assists. Anna Salerno was the second player with five points, leading the Mount's goal count with four. Abby Osmeyer and Dani Donoghue added hat tricks to the scoresheet.
 
Madison Bradley earned credit for the win in goal with nine saves. Madison Harmening enjoyed an all-around active game, leading with nine draw controls and finishing with three points – a goal and a pair of assists.
 
Niagara got a game-high five goals from both Lois Garlow and Lexi Braniecki.
 
It was a back-and-forth game from start to finish, with no team building a lead bigger than three goals. Following a 1-1 tie, goals by Salerno and Osmeyer boosted the home side to a 3-1 advantage. Braniecki countered for the Purple Eagles to make it 3-2 Mountaineers entering the second quarter. A 3-0 run for each team, plus an additional Niagara rally forced the game into a 7-7 tie at halftime.
 
Salerno took charge in scoring during the third. A pair of those goals came in the space of 75 seconds for a 10-8 lead. The duo of Rachel Crane and Garlow punched back to force another tie. Donoghue and Anderson answered but Niagara responded in kind with three goals to go up 13-12 entering the final frame.
 
Julianna Sanchez seized control for the Mount's first possession in the fourth, tallying her fifth goal of the year. Garlow scored with 8:15 left for a 14-13 visitor edge and then all went quiet on the offensive side for several minutes. Under three minutes to play, the Mount was able to pull level once again when Molly Molchanoff found Mackenzi Furlong for the score.
 
In the extra session, a draw control win for Abigail Zeigenfuse gained the upper hand for the home team. Ensuring the Purple Eagles would not get a chance, Harmening found Anderson blazing past the defense, blasting the game-winner past Niagara netminder Emma Mielke.
 
The team now stands 2-7 (1-0 MAAC) for the year. It was the Mount's first overtime showing since the 2021 Northeast Conference championship game, when they beat Wagner 9-8.
 
The Mount travels for the next two games, starting this coming Wednesday (Mar. 29) at Manhattan.