Albany, NY- The Sage Colleges' women's lacrosse team hosted the Panthers of SUNY-Old Westbury on Wednesday afternoon. The Gators needed overtime, but came away with the 13-12 win as junior Torri Sperl (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) collected the game winner in the first overtime. With the win, Sage improves to 6-6 overall and 3-2 in the Skyline. The six wins in a season is the most on the history of the team, which started in 2009 and also extends the program's win streak to five games as well, another Sage first! Old Westbury falls to 4-8 overall and 3-2 in the league.
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Lauren Marois, the 2017 Gators have achieved a number of highwater marks for the program as she is now tied for the most career wins with her 11 victories after taking over for former head coach Peter Stapleton in the summer of 2015.
Sage led 7-6 at the half and got an early goal in the second stanza from Sperl to lead 8-6 before the Panthers reeled off four unanswered goals including a pair by senior Sara Bey (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) to give Old Westbury the lead, 10-8 with 18:56 left in regulation.
Old Westbury held a 12-10 lead with 8:01 left as junior Halle Johnson (Malverne, NY/Malverne) scored.
Sage's senior tri-captain Monica Koralus (Verbank, NY/Millbrook) added back to back scores at 7:48 and 2:51 to tie the action at 12-12. The Panthers had a scoring chance as Bey had a free position shot with 40 seconds left in regulation, which Sage's senior goalie Jackie St. Pierre (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) stopped.
In the overtime, the Panthers won the draw and sophomore Natasha Treuman (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) had a shot which went wide. OW had another free position attempt at 1:36 as Treuman had a free position attempt at the top of the crease and once again, St. Pierre posted the save. After a good clear attempt, Sperl made her way down the field and collected what would be the game-winner at 0:59 for her 25th goal of the season.
For the game, St. Pierre had 15 saves, elevating her Sage career record in the process to 521 saves with a school record 16 wins in net. Old Westbury's junior Ashley Gugliuzzo (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) had 15 saves and drops to 4-8 on the year.
Sage got six points from Koralus on three goals with three assists, elevating her resume to include 220 points in 172 goals, 48 assists, all Sage career marks.
Sperl added three goals with an assist, while junior Adriana Spucches (Saugerties, NY/Red Hook) added two goals with an assist.
OW's Bey added five goals in the match, while rookie Rachel Phillips (Riverhead, NY/Riverhead) added three goals.
The Gators are back in action on Saturday, April 22 hosting Farmingdale State at 5 p.m. in RPI's Renwyck Field and will honor their seniors prior to the match in conjunction with Senior Night. OW is back in action on April 22 hosting the College of Mt. St. Vincent at noon and will also honor their 2017 seniors on Saturday.
