Perfect season hopes for Lax crushed by Colgate Women's Lacrosse was playing from behind for most of its match Saturday at Colgate in a battle of the Patriot League's last two unbeaten teams. But when the Eagles whittled the Raiders' lead to only a goal in the final minutes, the program's first ever undefeated conference mark seemed to come back within reach.
But time ran out on AU and its bid for a perfect record as the Eagles (7-7, 5-1 PL) failed to score in the final six minutes in a 10-9 loss to Colgate (11-4, 6-0).
Not only did the loss deny AU a perfect season, but also the right to host next weekend's conference championship, which will be hosted by Colgate. The Eagles will still play for their second consecutive tournament title and NCAA berth, but they will enter as a second seed against third-seeded Bucknell.
AU was in good position to claw back against Colgate when senior Tara Michael converted a free position with 6:10 left in the second. It was her third goal of the afternoon, but the offense went dry after that.
Michael's goal was the end of a ferocious comeback by the Eagles, who trailed 8-4 at halftime. The deficit was only four goals thanks to a late tally by senior Courtney Bennett before the break.
AU trailed 10-7 after a Colgate goal at 15:40 left in regulation. Senior Nicole McCarthy (two goals, one assist) knocked in an unassisted goal just five minutes later and was followed by Michael's successful free position. However, the Raiders never pulled away and the Eagles never scored again to seal the Colgate victory.
AU is 1-7 after trailing at halftime this season. Its only win came March 20 at Reeves Field against Lehigh when the Eagles overcame a five-goal gap to rally for a 15-10 win.
- KEVIN HILGERS
Carlstrom takes third, prepares for PL tourney Kiera Carlstrom placed third in the Olympic Development mile and the men won a relay as the AU Track and Field team competed in the annual Penn Relays this past weekend in Philadelphia.
Carlstrom placed third overall in the mile-run with a time of 4:42, her personal best. The event combines college runners with professionals who are preparing for the Olympic games.
She finished behind Mississippi State's Tiffany McWilliams, who ran in 4:31 and Team New Balance's Roisin McGettigan, who ran in 4:35.
"I was pleased with the way I ran this weekend, but this is only a starting point for me," Carlstrom said. "That's the last time McWilliams is going to get me."
The AU men's team of Phil Gaeta, Ed Topolewski, Dustin Emrani and Sean Duffy won the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 9:49, less than a second ahead of nationally ranked Columbia, which finished second.
A team of Gaeta, Matt Seymour, Conor Lanz and Duffy placed eighth overall in the 4 X 1 mile relay with a time of 16:40, 20 seconds behind winner Arkansas.
"We just need to keep training and do some speed work," Carlstrom said. "It's still early in the season and I know we haven't completely peaked."
Next up for the track team is this Friday's Patriot League Championship at Army in West Point, N.Y.
- JESSE EPSTEIN
