Devils claim OT thriller over Geneseo
Emily Polizzi (Rushville, N.Y./Marcus Whitman) scored on a rebound midway through overtime to lift Fredonia past Geneseo, 9-8, in a SUNYAC battle of nationally ranked women's lacrosse teams.
The winning play began as Katie Kleine (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia) took a free-position shot. Geneseo goalkeeper Claudia Coleates stopped Kleine, yet the rebound went directly at Polizzi and in one motion she shot the ball back at the goal and into the net.
The goal broke an 8-8 tie with 17 seconds left in the first three-minute portion of overtime. Fredonia's Audrey Yokopovich (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) won the ensuing draw control, her team-high fifth of the game, and Kleine claimed the draw control to start the second three-minute portion of the overtime. Fredonia possessed the ball for all of the final three minutes to claim the win.
The Blue Devils improved to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in SUNYAC while Geneseo fell to 8-2 overall and 3-2 in SUNYAC.
Fredonia led 7-3 at halftime, only to have Geneseo rally in the second half. The Blue Knights scored four straight goals by four different players, finally pulling even with 8:57 left in regulation on a goal by Erin Cregan. Each team had three possessions the rest of regulation time before heading to the overtime.
Katie Glagolev (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) won the draw control to start the overtime, while Lauren Metz (Williamsville, N.Y./Lancaster) later caused a turnover to deny Geneseo on its only possession in the final six minutes.
Kleine had a hand in seven of the nine Fredonia goals -- two goals and five assists. She also collected five groundballs, caused four turnovers, and took two draw controls. Yokopovich had three goals, Katie Miller (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) two goals, with Marissa Cussins (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post West) and Polizzi's game-winner accounting for the other two Fredonia goals.
Liz Felix led Geneseo with three goals to go along with two groundballs, two caused turnovers, and three draw controls. Cregan and Tara Basile had two goals each. Coleates made 13 saves to four saves by Fredonia's Nicole Burrows (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker).
Fredonia is ranked No. 20 and Geneseo No. 18 in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll.
The Blue Devils return to action 11 a.m. Saturday at Oneonta.
