ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College women's lacrosse team opened up MIAA conference play at Bahlke Field on Wednesday night under the lights. The Scots battled to the final seconds against Calvin University but ended up falling to a buzzer beater and dropping their first game of the season, 12-11.

Th Scots opened the game up with a goal from Joanna Scorziello to put Alma on the board first. Kirsten Browne added to the lead with her first of the game with nine minutes remaining to take a 2-0 lead. In a game that was a back and forth, Calvin scored the next two goals and tied the game with five minutes remaining in the quarter. Rileigh McGeorge was awarded a free position attempt and converted to put Alma back on top before the end of the first, which led to Alma leading 3-2 at the end of one.

Calvin would open up the scoring in the second with a goal just under four minutes in to tie the game at threes. Sarah Bollinger responded for the Scots under two minutes later which gave Alma another one goal lead. The Knights scored three unanswered goals in the remaining nine minutes of the half and went into the half with a 6-4 lead over the Scots.

Calvin kept the pressure on early in the third as they increased their lead with another goal before Alma tallied a response from Jamie Sherman on a goal that trickled over the line. Calvin then was able to respond with two goals to increase their lead and try to push Alma out of reach. 

With a four-goal deficit entering the fourth quarter, Alma dug deep and battled hard as they wanted to keep their unbeaten streak alive. Just forty seconds into the final frame, Sam Peterson put Alma on the board first for the quarter and cut the Knight lead to three. Less than thirty seconds later, McGeorge scored on her second free position shot of the game and now the Scots were within two of the Knights with almost a whole quarter to still play. The comeback was halted by two consecutive Calvin goals, which pushed the deficit back to four. With just under four minutes remaining and a man-down, Bollinger converted on a free position shot and brought Alma within three, looking to restart the comeback. Exactly one minute later, still a man-down, Bollinger scored her third of the game and Alma was within reach again with time still left to play. With under two minutes left to play, Peterson brought Alma within one goal from her second of the quarter to find the back of the net and gave life back into the Scots. Just twenty seconds later after a crucial draw control win by Bollinger, Emma Keith found Browne cutting towards the net and the ball found the back of the net to tie the game with 1:28 still to play. The Scots outscored the Knights 6-2 to this point in the fourth to put themselves into position to head to extra time. The Knights played spoiler with a goal just before time expired to snag a dramatic win in the conference opener.

Bollinger was the top scorer for the Scots with three goals as three players were right behind with two goals each. Ava Frederickson clamped down defensively with a game-high four caused turnovers and another game-high seven ground balls which helped her surpass the 100 career ground balls mark. McGeorge recorded five draw controls while Bollinger recorded four. Cassidy Smith played the full game between the pipes for Alma and made nine saves. 

The women's lacrosse team will continue their conference season this weekend as they travel to Albion College for a 1:00 PM start on Saturday, April 8th. 

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern