MENOMONIE– The University of Wisconsin-Stout women's lacrosse team secured a hard-fought 10-9 overtime victory against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Nelson Field Wednesday night.
Lilly Thomas delivered the game-winning goal 21 seconds into the extra frame, capping a dramatic comeback and handing the Blue Devils (6-1, 1-1) a crucial conference win over the Pointers (1-8, 0-1).
The game was a back-and-forth battle from the start. Stout jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from
Mai Nou Vang and
Abigail Todey, the latter coming on a player-up opportunity. Stevens Point responded late in the period with a woman-up goal by Barrie Bahr, narrowing the score to 2-1.
The second period saw Bahr strike again to tie the game at 2-2, but Thomas put Stout back in front with a woman-up goal, giving the Blue Devils a 3-2 edge at halftime. Stout extended their lead in the third, as Todey scored twice—once assisted by Thomas and once by
Megan Palmer—while
Brinley Tonn added another to make it 6-2. Stevens Point's Courtney Leising answered with a goal to cut the deficit to 6-3, but Thomas struck again, assisted by Todey, to push Stout's lead to 7-3 heading into the fourth.
The Pointers mounted a furious rally in the final period, scoring five goals to erase a four-goal deficit. Paige Allen ignited the comeback with an unassisted tally, followed by a flurry of scoring from Van Dyke (two goals) and Leising (two goals). Aliseah Senart's goal at 5:38 gave Stevens Point a 7-8 lead, their first of the game. Stout's
Riley Schulte responded with an unassisted goal at 6:03 to tie it at 8-8, and Thomas leveled the score at 9-9 with 2:34 remaining,
Emilia Bullock made two free position saves in the final 12 seconds to force overtime.
In the extra period, despite playing a player down after a late fourth-period yellow card. Thomas capped her standout performance with her fourth goal of the game, unassisted, to secure the 10-9 victory.
Thomas led Stout with four goals and an assist, while Todey added three goals and an assist.
Mai Nou Vang contributed a goal and an assist, and Schulte and Tonn each scored once. Goalkeeper
Emilia Bullock earned the win, making nine saves.
Stout outshot Stevens Point 32-30 and held advantages in ground balls (31-20) and draw controls (11-8), Stout forced 32 UWSP turnovers.
The win improves Stout's record to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Stevens Point falls to 1-8 and 0-1. The Blue Devils will travel St. Paul, Minn. on Sunday April 6 to face Hamline University. Opening draw is set for 12 p.m. on Klas Field.
