By Sarah Frohnapfel ’13
Photo Courtesy of Athletic Communications
Ana White ’14 averages 6.43 draw controls per game, currently ranked first in the nation. The midfielder picked up her fourth Patriot League Midfielder of the Week Award this week.
Junior attack Addie Godfrey’s game-winning goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game sparked it.
Sophomore goalie Meghan Curtin’s game-saving stop with seconds remaining sealed it: the Lafayette Women’s Lacrosse Team (9-5, 2-2) had it’s first winning streak since 2006.
The 13-12 thriller over American (7-6, 3-2) was the Leopards’ third straight victory, and it brings them one win away from their first 10-win season in a decade – not to mention a long-awaited spot in the Patriot League Tournament.
“This win was huge for us,” Katie Mischler ‘13 said. “Going to the PLT has been our goal for three years now. We are so close it’s almost scary. We have been working so hard for this, every day. Right now we’re looking ahead to a huge game against Colgate on Saturday.”
Godfrey, who has been the focal point of the Leopard’s offense all season, entered the game ranked first in the nation in goals scored. After four goals against American, Godfrey now boasts 49 in 2012 alone.
Ana White ‘14, the four-time winner of the Patriot League Midfielder of the Week, also scored four goals. Erin Steel ‘12 added two and Laura Kleiber ‘14, Courtney Landolfe ‘14 and Katie Mischler ‘13 each had one. Curtin ‘14 finished with five saves.
Lafayette out-numbered American in shots (26-24) and ground balls (25-19).
White entered the game sitting on top of the nation in draw controls, averaging 6.38 per game. She had seven in the win. She also surpassed her 2011 goal total of 29, reaching 31. Mischler became the seventh player for the Leopards to score ten goals this season.
Only two Patriot League games remain, and winning just one would be the difference between a good season and a history-changing season for the program. As the seniors look ahead to the last few times they will put on a uniform, they have the unfamiliar possibility of advancing past the regular season and making a run at the championship.
“It’s the little things, the small parts of the game are coming together,” Mischler said. “There’s no more talking about what we’re going to do. We’re finally doing it.”
On Tuesday night, Lafayette lost 19-11 to Columbia in their final non-conference game of the season. Godfrey reached the 50 goal plateau in the loss, the first Leopard to do that since Heather McClelland ’02 scored 52 goals in 2002.