CLEVELAND, Tenn.- Maggie Luzier scored five goals for the Lee University lacrosse team and none was bigger than the final one. 57 seconds into overtime, Luzier converted a shot from long range to give Lee a 16-15 win over Young Harris College on Thursday evening. After trailing by as many as five goals in the first half, the Lady Flames rallied and earned the win in the extra period to improve to 7-4 on the season.
YHC scored the first two goals of the game, and it took Lee just over eight minutes to find the back of the net. Callie Curtis was the first tow do so to get her 27th goal of the season. A little over a minute later, Brittney White tied the game at 2-2. YHC then scored the final goal of the first quarter and led 3-2 after 15 minutes.
YHC added to the lead just 15 seconds into the second quarter with the second goal of the game for Ashlyn Fraley. Makenna Luzier made it 4-3 on a free position shot for the Lady Flames. The Mountain Lions then went on a 4-0 run over a four minute period to extend their lead out to it's largest at 8-3. At that point, the Lady Flames got it into gear as they scored five goals in a row. Kylee Kangas got it going before Maggie Luzier and Hannah Vecsey each converted free position shots. The Luzier sisters then each scored a goal to end the half with a 8-8 tie
Lee took their first lead just over a minute into the third period on a powerful strike from Emma Bailey. Young Harris answered right back though to tie it at 9-9. The Lady Flames managed to score two back-to-back goals to take a 12-10 lead on goals from Maggie Luzier and Katelyn Sweeney. However, the Mountain Lions answered right back and tied the game again at 12-12 at the end of the third.
Bailey scored again to give Lee the lead again to start the fourth. YHC then answered with two to retake the lead at 14-13. Maggie Luzier and White each scored in the fourth and Lee led 15-14. Ella Hancock managed to tie the game with 34 seconds left in regulation for YHC. On the ensuing draw, YHC won it and earned a free position shot with just seven seconds left in the game. The goalkeeper for Lee, Kaleigh Bernard, stepped up and made a big save on Emily Flynt's shot to force overtime.
White won the draw in overtime and with time running out on the shot clock, Maggie Luzier scored the game winning goal just a minute into overtime.
YHC outshot Lee 37-27 and had more draw controls at 21-14, but Lee was 5-for-7 in free position shots while YHC was 0-for-3.
Luzier's five goals gives her 31 on the season. Bernard had 14 saves in the win.
The Lady Flames will host Embry-Riddle University on Sunday, March 24 at 1 PM.
Coach Megan Smith's Thoughts:
"We have been working on being patient and seeing the ball and Kaleigh Bernard killed it today."
"Young Harris is a rival even though they aren't in our conference anymore so it's always a good game. They beat us the last time here and we wanted to win it today."
"Maggie has been a huge asset for us. We talked about it during the game to be patient and making sure we are open for our shots. She stayed composed and managed to score to win it. We never gave up tonight. Our parents and fans were awesome so it was kept fighting for the win."
