Schmitz hits Two of Final Three Goals; Lift Women's Lacrosse in Thriller at Thomas More College

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – Sophomore Sarah Schmitz (Huntington, N.Y.) fired into the back of the cage for a successful game-winner on Saturday at Thomas More College in the 8-7 final. It was her second of the contest and fifth of her career. The first goal of the match for Schmitz was on a power play that sparked a 3-0 run in the final 12:53 minutes.

Dallas claimed an early advantage with the first two goals in four and a half minutes out of the opening draw control. Seniors Hayley Rodgers (Houston, Texas) and Colby Madrigal (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) were responsible in respective order for the goals going in for UD. The duo each hat tricked in the win and scored those first pair on free position shots.

The Saints countered with five of the next six scoring opportunities. Erika Larosa picked up both of her goals during this span. A string of three goals in a row for Thomas Saint More lifted the squad 3-2. Rodgers dialed in her second goal of the game to knot the board with about 11 and a half minutes left in the half.

Larosa mustered her second goal in a row for the home team and Josie Perrino got goal number one to start her eventual hat trick. Her second netter rounded out the first half, and Dallas trailed 6-4 at intermission.

Madrigal scored a free position shot to nip the margin to 6-5 with about a minute gone in the second half. Perrino would net the lone goal of the frame for the Saints. The back of the cage was only found that one time with 20:54 remaining for TMC.

The Lady Crusaders took advantage of a Yellow Card, which was given out three times to the host team and once to the guests. With just under 13 minutes in the game, Schmitz cut the margin to 7-6 thanks to a numbers advantage for UD. Rodgers secured her hat trick with the game-tying goal about two minutes later. 10 minutes rolled by before Schmitz sealed the comeback win.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

- Madrigal and Rodgers each notched hat tricks for Dallas on the strength of six shots and four shots on cage apiece. Schmitz contributed five shots and tied a team-high four shots on cage.

- Schmitz won five draw controls and Rodgers controlled three. The Navy and White outdid TMC in draw controls with a 13-3 edge. The 13 marks a season-high for UD.

- The Lady Crusaders took advantage of free position shots by completing a 3-for-5 display compared to 0-5 for the Saints.

- Thomas More won the battle in shot attempts by three (24-21), and were even 15-15 in shots on goal. The groundballs favored the Saints 12-11.  

- Freshman Kyla Mangham (Oklahoma City, Okla.) made a season-high eight saves against 15 shots faced in 60 minutes.

- For Thomas More, Perrino attempted a game-high 10 shots and placed five on cage. She won two of the three draw controls for the squad. Her three goals and one assist gave her four points.

- Mollie Mosley worked a full 60 minutes between the pipes and gathered seven saves.

UP NEXT

Dallas is at Hanover College Sunday at 12 p.m. (EST)