Framingham, Mass. – Freshman Tara Palermo (Mashpee, Mass.) tallied the game winner off a feed from junior Grace Gamache (Dartmouth, Mass.) with five seconds remaining in the first half of overtime as the Framingham State University women's lacrosse team defeated Westfield State University 10-9 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Maple Street Field.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Framingham State 10, Westfield State 9 (OT)
- Records: Framingham State (11-3, 4-0 MASCAC), Westfield State (5-9, 2-2 MASCAC)
- Location: Maple Street Field – Framingham, Mass.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Rams got on the board first with a pair of goals in the game's opening two minutes. Gamache and sophomore Jenna McMahon (Watertown, Mass.) each scored off helpers from Hanna McMahon (Watertown, Mass.).
• Senior Elizabeth Navoni got the Owls on the board off an assist from Victoria Paras at 25:52, but Alissa Marino (Trumbull, Conn.) pushed the lead back to two for the Rams (3-1).
• Novani tied the game at 3-3 for Westfield with her second goal of the game with just under seven minutes to play in the half.
• Two straight from Palermo and Gamache put the Rams back on top by two. The teams traded goals in the closing five minutes of the half giving the Rams a 6-4 lead at the half.
• Jenna McMahon tallied the first goal of the second half putting the Rams in the lead 7-4.
• Marissa Nimeskern converted a free position shot and Gamache scored for the Rams making the score 8-5 with just over 24 minutes remaining.
• Westfield's Alexa Tonelli converted back-to-back free position shots and Sydney Lambert scored tying the game at 8-8 with 14:12 on the clock.
• Navoni gave the Owls their first lead of the day with 8:40 on the clock with her third of the game, but Hanna McMahon scored off a Gamache assist with 2:26 on the clock to force the extra session.
• With the five seconds remaining in the first part of overtime, Gamache hit a streaking Palermo with a pass and Palermo found the back of the net for the game winner and her second of the game.
• Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath (Bedford, Mass.) earned the victory in net for the Rams making seven saves, while Maria Woodall took the loss despite making eight stops.
• The Owls held a 25-24 edge in shots for the game and a 27-26 advantage in ground balls.
• Gamache finished the game with three goals and two assists, while Hanna McMahon tallied two markers with two assists.
• Navoni paced the Owls with three goals, while Lambert and Tonelli scored twice apiece.
• With the victory, the Rams now sit alone atop the MASCAC standings at 4-0 in league play.
UP NEXT:
The Rams are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Salem for a MASCAC contest beginning at 3 p.m. The Owls return home and host Worcester State on Saturday for a MASCAC clash at 12 p.m.
-- release courtesy Framingham State Sports info