Gburg women’s lax pummel Washington College 14-3; Women’s Lacrosse Earns Eighth Straight Win
Senior Maggie Connolly earned four goals for Gettysburg to help the Bullets win 14-3 against win Washington College.
By Elizabeth Hilfrank, Staff Writer
The Gettysburg women’s lacrosse team held Washington College to only three goals Saturday, earning a win of 14-3.
This win over fifth-ranked Washington earned the Bullets a top seed for the Centennial Conference playoffs beginning May 4.
Despite the score, the winner was not clear from the start of the game.
The Shorewomen scored two goals within the first eight minutes of the first half.
The Bullets, down 2-1 at this point, quickly retaliated with three goals scored within twenty-six seconds.
This streak marked the fastest three-goal run for the season and was earned by senior Maggie Connolly, sophomore Katie Landry and senior Amanda Borucki.
After the initial two Washington goals, only one more was earned for the rest of the game.
After the first seventeen-minutes of competition, the Bullets held the Shorewomen to only eight shots on goal for the duration of the game.
Junior goalie Shannon Keeler held off these shots, a talent that is not new to her.
Within the conference Keeler ranks first in her goals-against average (5.75), first in save percentage (55.4%), second in total goals against (62) and eighth in total saves (77).
Keeler also ranks eleventh nationally for her goals-against average.
The junior was named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week April 18. This recognition brings her to six Player of the Week titles in her career.
While the Bullets’ defense looked strong, the offense did not falter in the second half. Gettysburg scored eight goals during the latter thirty-minutes.
Eight players worked to earn the fourteen goals throughout the day, with Connolly earning four.
Borucki and sophomores Katie Landry and Maggie Welsh each earned a pair of goals.
The many different talents of each player helps to create such unified success for the team.
“Everyone of the players that we have on our team can be looked at as a key player; we all bring different things to the team,” said sophomore Madison Martino. “Because of the similar goals we have set for each other and for ourselves, I don’t have any doubt that we will be going tenaciously into our conference games with poise, determination, and strength, and furthermore, into our national games.”
The season has been one of much success for both the players and coaches.
Head Coach Carol Cantele earned her 350th Gettysburg College career win after the lady Bullet’s 19-3 defeat over McDaniel College.
It is this great combination of coaches and athletes that allows for the teams success, and the players believe strongly in this connection.
“We’re looking exceptionally strong because of our unity” said Martino.
The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III Poll ranked the Lady Bullets fifth in the nation for the past two weeks.
Gettysburg first broke into the top tier after their 17-5 win against Ursinus College.
Their win against Washington College secured their top-five status as they come in with 327 points for the season.
While fifth place is a solid national ranking, the Bullets want more.
“Just like any other team, our goal is a National Championship, and I think this team can get us there!” said sophomore Katie Willis.
Willis recently returned to play after an early back injury from being hit early in the season.
“We all believe in ourselves and we know the process to get to our goal of becoming the next D3 National Champions,” said senior captain Amanda Borucki.
Borucki earned two of the first three goals scored during the game Saturday.
The Bullets next face Bryn Mawr College on home turf Saturday at 1:00 p.m. It will be the last regular season game.
