No. 7 Norwich Upsets No. 2 Emerson 9-8 in Women's Lax 2OT thriller

BOSTON, Mass. —Junior Grace Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, Maine) scored with 2:47 remaining in double overtime to lead the seventh-seeded Norwich University women's lacrosse team to a 9-8 upset against the second-seeded Lions of Emerson College on Wednesday evening in the quarterfinal round of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament.

With the win, the Cadets improve to 6-7 on the season and advance to the GNAC semifinal on Friday against No. 3 Simmons.  The Lions see their season come to a close at 10-7.

Following a 7-7 score at regulation, Fitzpatrick gave the Cadets the 8-7 advantage midway through the six minute first overtime period on a free position shot, but Emerson's Tayllar Righini responded with an unassisted goal 41 seconds later to even the score at 8-8. The score forced a sudden-victory second overtime period, setting up Fitzpatrick for the game-winning goal.

Fitzpatrick led the Cadets with five goals and three assists.  Gina Conroy (Amherst, N.H.) and Chandler Camlin (Stamford, Conn.) contributed two goals apiece. 

The Cadets and Lions battled evenly for the entire game.  After taking an early 2-0 lead, the Cadets then gave up two goals for the first tie of the game at 2-2.  Norwich's 2-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game marked the largest lead for either team in a game that saw five lead changes and six tied scores before Fitzpatrick's game-winning goal. 

Emerson saw three goals by Righini and a goal and an assist by Guerin Morrissette, Mackenzie Johnson, Kanika Misra, and Tracie Lombardo.

Norwich goaltender Cheyenne Mata-Notel (East Hampton, N.Y.) totaled 10 saves in the win for the Cadets.  Emerson goaltender Victoria Kanaris totaled eight saves for the Lions, who trailed the Cadets 23-18 in shots.

Fitzpatrick led Norwich in both draw controls and ground balls with four of each. Righini totaled a game-high six draw controls for Emerson, while Marlee Galper recorded a team-high four ground balls.

No. 7 Norwich advances to take on No. 3 Simmons on Friday afternoon in the GNAC semifinal.  Game time has not yet been announced. 

*Release provided courtesy of Norwich University Sports Information Dept.