FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's lacrosse team received a goal from sophomore Nicole Pacheco (Woburn, Mass.) with 36 seconds remaining as the host Rams edged visiting Bridgewater State University, 15-14, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Saturday morning at Maple Street Field.
The Rams improve to 10-1 on the season (2-0 MASCAC) with their ninth straight win, while the Bears fall to 7-4 overall (1-1 MASCAC). Before today's victory, Framingham was 0-10 all-time versus Bridgewater since 2008.
Pacheco paced the Rams offensively with five goals, an assist and four draw controls, while senior Kimmy Foley (Mansfield, Mass.) added two goals, two helpers, two ground balls and four draw controls. Freshman Hanna McMahon (Watertown, Mass.) also tallied a pair of markers, while classmate Alissa Marino (Trumbull, Conn.) chipped in with two goals and an assist. Sophomore Grace Gamache (Dartmouth, Mass.) found the back of the net once and dished out a game-best six assists.
The Bears were paced by three goals and three assists from sophomore Victoria McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.). McDonough also added three ground ball and two draw controls. Senior Gabby Reinold (Braintree, Mass.) tallied three goals with three ground balls, while junior Elizabeth Ettridge (Marshfield, Mass.), junior Mackenzie Manning (Hingham, Mass.) and senior Brooke Buckner (Foxboro, Mass.) notched two goals apiece for the visitors.
Bridgewater State opened up a 6-2 lead with just under 15 minutes remaining in the first half, but the Rams closed the frame with six straight goals including a pair from Pacheco to take an 8-6 lead into the break.
Bridgewater State tallied two in the opening minutes to tie the game, before the Rams scored two straight including one from Gamache and one from Pacheco to take a 10-8 lead. The Bears answered with two of their own from Ettridge and McDonough to knot the score at 10-10.
The two teams would trade goals over the final 17 minutes of the game with neither team leading by more than one. Senior Kristen Keenan (Methuen, Mass.) converted off a pass from Gamache to put the Rams up 14-13 with 4:32 on the clock.
The Bears tied the game with 1:45 remaining on an unassisted marker by Reinold. The Bears called timeout, but the Rams won the ensuing draw control and worked the clock down until Gamache found Pacheco for the go ahead goal with 36 seconds remaining. Gamache won the ensuing draw control for the Rams and after a timeout the Rams were able to run the clock out and secure the victory.
The Rams outshot the Bears 38-25 in the contest and held a decided 21-10 edge in draw controls.
Junior Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath (Bedford, Mass.) earned the victory in net making seven saves, while BSU sophomore Hayley Barner (Westwood, Mass.) took the loss despite making 17 stops.
The Rams are back in action on Friday night when they host Fitchburg State University at 5:30. The Bears travel to Plymouth State University on Tuesday afternoon for a four o'clock game with the Panthers.