Back-to-back goals by sophomore attacker Elise Burchard gave Colorado College a four-goal lead with 8:40 remaining and the top-seeded Tigers withstood a late comeback by Sewanee to record a 10-9 victory in the championship game of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.

CC appeared to be in complete control after junior attacker Ellie Cole struck for three consecutive goals, the last of which put her team ahead by an 8-3 count with 16:47 remaining.

Less than two minutes later, freshman attacker Mallory Grimm ignited a three-goal outburst that allowed the host Tigers to trim their deficit to 8-6 with 12:24 to play after senior midfielder Meg Welton and senior attacker Page Carpenter scored just 10 seconds apart.

Burchard slowed Sewanee's momentum with what proved to be the first game-winning goal of her career, but Welton struck again 73 seconds later and cut CC's lead to 10-8 with 4:58 to play.

Junior goaltender Abby Fink made two of her eight saves during the final five minutes, with both shots coming off Welton's stick. Fink also denied Sewanee on two of its eight free-position shots.

“Abby played well and had some really big saves,” head coach Susan Stuart said. “The defense played great. They did what they needed to do. They were not going to lose that game.”

Welton added her sixth goal of the contest, the fourth on a free-position opportunity, with one second remaining.

“Meg Welton is a great player,” Stuart said. “As a team, Sewanee is solid at every position.”

Cole paced the Colorado College attack with three goals and a pair of assists. Senior midfielder Grace Maloney scored twice and set up a third marker before she left the game due to an injury with 20:18 remaining in the game.

“We were bummed about Grace,” Stuart said. “She got leveled. It wasn't cheap, but it was aggressive and at the wrong time. She went down awkwardly and never went back in. They scored a couple of quick goals after Grace went down, but our kids rallied and were not going to be denied.”

Junior midfielder Kate Krieger found the net twice in the first half, including one during the final 2:18 when CC struck for three consecutive goals to grab a 5-2 lead after 30 minutes.

Junior defender Nancy Makuch paced the Colorado College defense with three ground balls and a caused turnover.
Senior goalie Amy Nusbaum finished with six saves for the hosts, who finished with a 26-24 edge in total shots.

Maloney finished the season with career highs of 47 goals and 26 points, and her 73 points ranks second only to Cassie Abel's total of 78 set during the 2004 campaign.

Colorado College improved to 15-3 overall, while Sewanee slipped to 11-6. CC swept the season series and avenged last year's loss to Sewanee in the championship game.

“Our returning players were still mad about losing to Sewanee last year,” Stuart said. “Everyone, especially the seniors, came out ready to play and controlled the tempo from the outset.”