NEWARK, DEL. – The Rams held a one score lead with 7:14 to go, but the Wildcats put up two goals in a two-minute span as the Thomas Jefferson University women's lacrosse team (4-5, 4-1) dropped their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contest against Wilmington University of Delaware (10-2, 4-0) 15-14 in Thursday afternoon matchup.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
The Rams and Wildcats each scored four goals in the first period. Wilmington had the first score with Ellie Lefton responding as she made her shot in the net. The Wildcats added two more goals on the board t go up 3-1. Erin Avanzato made her first of five goals on the day to get the Rams within one point. After another Wilmington score, Lefton put in another shot in the net while Carina Raymond made her first goal of the day, following E. Avanzato with five goals in the contest as well, to even it out at 4-4 after the first quarter.
 
Wilmington proceeded to go on a 5-0 run as they jumped out ahead of the Rams 9-4. The Rams were able to put up three goals in the last 4:34 minutes, with Raymond scoring twice, one manup, and Lynn Hardy putting a goal in as well to have Jefferson trail Wilmington 9-7 at the half.
 
Lefton started the third with a goal for Jefferson, beginning the comeback for the Rams. Ella Royer had a goal for the Wildcats, but E. Avanzato and Raymond each scored a goal to get the game tied at 11-11. Anatasia Giannoulis put a shot at the 5:18 mark that made the game 12-11 for the rest of the third period.
 
Both teams would see the lead change in the final quarter. E. Avanzato and Raymond once more put a goal apiece to retake the lead at 13-12 with 9:19 to go. Makenzie Stritzinger tied it up at the 7:43 mark. E. Avanzato made her last goal less than 30 seconds after Wilmington's score to have Jefferson up 14-13. Royer and Stritizinger put up two shots in the net for the Wildcats 14-13 lead with 3:01 left in the game. The Rams would have a clear to Wilmington's side, but Jefferson was not able to make a shot as they would fall to the Wildcats 14-13.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Carina Raymond: 5 goals, 4 draw controls, 2 caused turnovers, 2 ground balls
Erin Avanzato: 5 goals, 3 caused turnovers, 2 ground balls
Ellie Lefton: 3 goals, 5 assists, 1 draw control
Lynn Hardy: 1 goal, 3 ground balls, 2 draw controls, 2 caused turnovers
Kalyn Ammerlaan: 12 saves
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will have a quick turnaround when they head to Oranegburg, N.Y. to have a CACC Championship Finals rematch with Dominican University of New York on Saturday, April 6 at 11 a.m.