CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Lacrosse team (8-3, 4-2 SCIAC) came within a goal, 12-11, of stunning Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Wednesday evening. The previous meeting between the two teams was a 24-1 CMS victory last April.
The Bulldogs' defensive unit locked down the Athenas across the first 20 minutes as they held them to just one goal, while they tallied five of their own. The opening goal came seven minutes into the game when Catie Ramicone (Countryside, Ill.) found Ruby Czajkowski (West Hartford, CT).
The other four goals came from a pair of braces from Emily Webster (Ladera Ranch, CA) and April Bryant (Danville, CA). Czajkowski assisted on two of them with Bryant adding an assist to her goal.
Between the 9:09 and 6:14 marks of the second period, the Athenas scores three times to pull within one, 5-4. Then over the final 3:46, though, Bryant and Czajkowski each scored to extend the lead to three, 7-4, at the half.
Following a Ramicone assisted, Maya Weaver (Tustin, CA) goal with 6:28 remaining in the third, Redlands had re-established their four-goal lead, 10-6.
Much like the second quarter, CMS responded with a 4-0 run that tied the game at 10-10 with 8:29 to play in the game. Exactly a minute later Cailin Walker (Portland, OR) found Bryant to put UR back on top, 11-10.
The Athenas, however, would score two times in the final :18 seconds and held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard as they narrowly pulled out the win.
Across the first 38 plus minutes Redlands scored 10 times and held CMS to six goals before the Athenas flipped the script by outscoring the Bulldogs 6-1 over the final 19 minutes.
Jenny Quinonez Diaz (Menlo Park, CA) had a big defensive day with three ground balls and six caused turnovers. Ramicone, Czajkowski, Jacqueline Landucci (San Mateo, CA), Gwen Guico (Camano Island, WA), and Natalie Schumann (Murrieta, CA) all added two caused turnovers.
Offensively Bryant led the way with six points thanks to five goals, both game highs. Czajkowski had three goals and two assists. Bryant also helped the Bulldogs to a plus eight advantage in draw controls won with 10. That is another Top-10 mark in single-game history, her third overall.
Webster had the fast start with two quick goals. This marks the 13th consecutive game with a goal, tying her for the 10th longest streak in program history. Courtney Myers (Gig Harbor, WA) had a huge game between the posts finishing with 11 saves and picking up a groundball.
Redlands will have to be ready for another tough test as they return to Farquhar Field for a noon start this Saturday, April 5 against No. 13 Pomona-Pitzer.
