The Colorado College women's lacrosse team tried to mount one of its vaunted NCAA Tournament comebacks, but No. 6 Salisbury University would have none of it and posted a 18-8 victory over the Tigers in the regional semifinal of the 2019 NCAA Women's Division III Lacrosse Championship.
Â
Playing across the street from where CC overcame a 9-0 deficit to defeat Nazareth College 12-11 in double overtime on May 7, 2007, which still stands as the largest comeback in tournament history, this year's Tigers were unable to produce that level of magic.
Â
After trailing by 10 late in the first half, CC cut its deficit to seven when
Maggie O'Donnell scored 4:31 into the second half to cap a three-goal surge. The Tigers had a chance to draw even closer on the next possession, but the Salisbury defense forced a turnover and scored to ignite a 3-0 run of its own and restore a 10-goal lead.
Â
Allie Thuet and
Avery Bell led the Tigers with two goals apiece. Both of Bell's tallies occurred while the Tigers were down a player.Â
Â
O'Donnell scored once and set up two others.
Â
Eva King finished with a goal and an assist to become the second player in program history to record 100 points in a single season. She finished the year with 49 goals and 51 assists, and joined former teammate
Steph Kelly as the only Tigers to reach that milestone.
Â
Ellie Meyer had an outstanding game in the final game of her career, producing game highs of four caused turnovers and three ground balls. The senior midfielder also picked up a pair of draw controls.Â
Â
After Thuet leveled the score at 1-1 with an unassisted goal 6:49 into the contest, Salisbury seized control of the game with an 8-1 run midway in the first half.
Â
The Tigers had a couple of chances to minimize the Sea Gulls' big run, but O'Donnell rang a tough-angle shot off the crossbar and then Thuet's stick was checked while launching a free-position shot and the ball went wide of the right post.
Â
Later, with CC trailing 8-2, King smacked the post with a shot from the slot.
Â
Salisbury posted a 26-25 edge in total shots and a 14-13 edge in ground balls. The Sea Gulls also built a 16-12 advantage in draw controls.
Â
Gabby Mongo scored four goals to lead Salisbury, which improved to 18-3.
Â
Lydia McNulty and Emma Skoglund came off the bench to notch three goals apiece for the hosts.
Â
Colorado College finished the season with an 18-2 record and set the program record for victories in a single season.
Â