By Aaron Rodenhausen
Sports Editor
Washington College’s lacrosse program earned four victories after four games last week, setting the College up for success in the playoffs.
The Shorewomen began the week in Collegeville, Pa. at Ursinus College on April 6. WC had been slated to play the Bears the previous Wednesday, but a lack of referees resulted in a last-second postponement. The Shorewomen were unfazed.
“We were prepared no matter what, but the extra time definitely gave us a little more fire,” senior guard Maddy Kissinger said. “After traveling to Ursinus on Wednesday, warming up, and then having the game postponed, we came into Monday really motivated and ready to dominate.”
True to their word, the Shorewomen led for most of the game and then sealed the deal with six straight goals in the fourth quarter. With that, WC rose to 8-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Centennial Conference. Ursinus, meanwhile, slipped to 7-5 and 1-2, respectively.
Two days later, on April 8, the Shoremen kicked off their week at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. The host Green Terror was up 2-1 with 10:07 remaining in the first quarter when the Shoremen tallied three goals in a row. From there, WC stayed ahead until the end. The next three quarters finished 3-0, 5-0, and 6-1. The Shoremen claimed a decisive 18-3 victory and climbed to 11-3 overall and 5-1 in the conference. McDaniel plummeted to 5-9 and 0-5.
On Saturday, the Shorewomen celebrated Senior Day with a home game against 24th-ranked Muhlenberg College.
“The energy all around us is…unstoppable. Our alumni, friends, and families [are] there to support us, the Shorewomen, and our senior class,” senior attacker Piper Evans said.
Fueled by that excitement, the Shorewomen edged past the guest Mules in the first stanza, 3-2, and dominated the field in the second, 7-0. The momentum began to shift after halftime, with a 3-3 tie in the third quarter. Muhlenberg sped to 7-1 at the close of the fourth quarter, but the Shorewomen’s lead proved insurmountable. The home team proudly declared victory, 14-12, and improved to 11-3 overall and 5-1 in the Centennial. Muhlenberg fell to 10-4 and 1-4, respectively.
The Shoremen played their last game of the week on Saturday as well, this time at Haverford College in Haverford, Pa.
WC charged ahead to an 8-4 lead at halftime, but the scales tipped following the break. The Fords crept ahead to a 2-1 victory in the third quarter, then outscored the Shoremen 5-2 in the final stanza. As the clock ran out, the 11-11 tie forced the teams into overtime. With 63 seconds to go in the extra period, sophomore attacker Nate Winters passed to junior attacker Peyton Gestole, who made the game-ending goal. The 12-11 victory propelled WC to 11-3 on the season and 5-1 in conference play, with Haverford sinking to 8-6 and 2-4.
The Shoremen’s next game is set for April 18 against 10th-ranked Gettysburg College, which will mark the close of their second-to-last week of the regular season. The Shorewomen will next play at 20th-ranked Franklin & Marshall College on the same day.
As the conclusion of the regular season draws near, WC’s athletes are ready to play their best games yet. For all players, including the eight Shorewomen celebrated on Senior Day, these will be a meaningful few weeks.
“We are ready to give it all that we’ve got and play for each other until the very last whistle,” junior midfielder Lis Braswell said.
Photo Caption: Friends, family, and community members come together on Senior Day to celebrate the Shorewomen lacrosse team’s graduating members.
\Photo courtesy of WC Athletics.