KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Alma College women's lacrosse team continued their impressive season with their fourth MIAA win in their past five games. The Scots battled hard all night and were able to leave Kalamazoo with a 10-9 overtime victory heading into the final regular season game.

Alma found themselves in an early hole to dig out of as Kalamazoo jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after scoring both goals a minute apart. The Scots would find their footing and build some momentum as they would score the next four goals of the game. The first goal came from Sam Peterson on a pass from Kirsten Browne with ten minutes left in the first quarter. Alma's goal would be the last goal of the first as they Scots headed into the second down 2-1.

Jamie Sherman kicked off the next quarter with a goal just over a minute in assisted by Joanna Scorziello to notch the game at twos. Scorziello then was rewarded for her assist of the last goal as she had a free-position shot that she was able to convert on to give Alma their first lead of the game. The Scots were not done though as Emma Keith added another goal with a helper from Lauren Kenny to increase the Scots lead to two with 11 minutes left in the half. The Hornets brought the score to 4-3 with just over ten seconds left in the half with a late goal, tightening the game up heading into the second half. 

The Scots would struggle in the third quarter as the Hornets tied the game early on. Alma would respond with a Sarah Bollinger pass to Keith, who found the back of the net to regain the lead. Kalamazoo would lean on the play of Ella Spooner who scored the next three goals of the game all within four minutes to take a two-score lead over Alma late in the third. Browne cut the lead in half with a free position goal with just over a minute left in the quarter, making for a dramatic final frame. 

Alma tied the game again just three minutes into the fourth on a goal from Sherman assisted by Kenny, knotting the game at sevens. The Hornets retook the lead just four minutes later and added another with under four minutes left to hold a two-goal lead with three minutes left to play in regulation. Alma would not go down without a fight as Peterson brought the game within one with a helper by Sherman with just over 90 seconds left to play. Kalamazoo was given a yellow card with a minute left in the game giving Alma a man-up opportunity to tie the game. The Scots would do just that as Sherman found the back of the net with 20 seconds left on a pass from Browne, tying the game at 9-9 as the teams looked to head to overtime. 

In overtime, Kalamazoo won the draw control and took an early possession looking to close out the game. After a shot that missed the net, Rileigh McGeorge caused a crucial turnover and collected the ground ball heading towards the offensive side of the field. Keith would cut to the net and catch a pass from Sherman that would be the game-winning goal as the Scots battled back from a late deficit to pick up a hard-earned MIAA victory. The win against the Hornets guaranteed the Scots a berth in the MIAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.

Sherman tallied five points on two goals and three assists to lead the Scots on offense. Keith tallied three goals in the contest to follow behind as Browne scooped up five ground balls for a team-high as three other Scots player each recorded four ground balls. Bollinger led all players on the field with six caused turnovers helping lead the Scots to victory. 

Alma will now look to improve their postseason seeding with a big matchup against Saint Mary's College (IN) on Friday, April 28th. The game will take place at Bahlke Field with a game start set for 6:00 PM.

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern