Courtesy of Delaware State Athletics
Dover, Del. (Feb. 19, 2023) — Mica Lambertscored the game-winning goal on a free position shot at the 1:40 mark of the fourth overtime period to lift Delaware State to a 13-12 win over Akron in a heart-stopping women’s lacrosse contest at Mike Drass Field today.
The win improves the Hornets to 2-0 for the first time in the 11-year history of the program. Delaware State defeated Howard 16-4 on Feb. 11 for its first-ever season-opening win.
Delaware State and Akron were tied at 12-12 at the end of regulation and after three three-minute overtime sessions. Lambert was selected for the free position shot following an infraction on the Zips. The right-hander fired a shot by Akron net-minder Kylan Rhude for the winning shot, setting off a joyous celebration on the field with her teammates. The goal was the second of the game for Lambert, who also scored in the first period to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead. Rosella Nardi led the Hornets with four goals, while Ebony Reddick notched two for the Hornets.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team than I am right now,” said Delaware State head coach Pam Jenkins. “These ladies could have let down after giving up two five-goal leads, but they kept pushing and pushing to earn this big win for our program.
Yeda (goal keeper Couto-Erickson) was amazing again today, making big save after big save to keep us in the game.” Couto-Erickson, the reigning ASUN Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week, recorded 16 saves, including two in the final 10 seconds of regulation and crucial stops late in the first and second overtime periods.
Delaware State scored the first three goals of the game, and opened up a 6-1 lead on a one-up score by Nina Dillard with 5:18 left in the opening period. After a goal by the Zips, Nardi scored her first of the game to put the Hornets ahead 7-2 at the 2:40 mark of the first period.
Akron outscored the Hornets 5-1 in the second period to pull to within 8-7 at the break. The Zips also took the third period 2-1 to tie the score at 9-9 heading into the final stanza. Delaware State responded with back-to-back goals by Nardi and Mayerlin Santosto start the fourth period, opening up an 11-9 lead with 8:02 left in regulation. Akron answered with three straight goals, and pulled ahead for the first time, 12-11, on a shot by Kaija Kunttu with 5:11 remaining in regulation. Nardi provided another late-game highlight, scoring an unassisted goal with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 12. The teams were scoreless during the first three overtime periods.
The Hornets are back in action on Wednesday (Feb. 22) with another home against Presbyterian. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m. at Drass Field on the Delaware State Downtown Campus.
