Hamden, Conn. — Maive Partlow scored seven seconds into the second overtime period Saturday to give Niagara a 14-13 women's lacrosse victory over Quinnipiac at QU Lacrosse Stadium.

Niagara improved to 2-7 overall and 1-0 in MAAC play. Quinnipiac fell to 5-4, 0-1.

Quinnipiac grabbed an early two-goal lead as Mia Delmond found the net twice, the first assisted by Brie Provenzano and the second on a free-position shot to put the Bobcats up 2-0.

Niagara responded in the final three minutes of the opening period. Olschefskie converted a free-position shot with 2:49 remaining, then scored again at 1:03 on a straight shot off a ground ball pickup by Sydney Huhtala, knotting the score at 2-2 heading into the second quarter.

Niagara took its first lead at 12:40 of the second frame when Delles converted a man-up free-position shot making it 3-2. The Bobcats answered quickly, however, with Cate Bendowski burying a shorthanded goal assisted by Delmond at 11:16 to level the score again at 3-3.

Emma Miller-Ayala scored on a free-position shot at 4:33 to put the Bobcats up 4-3, and Provenzano added another with eight seconds remaining  assisted by Anna Givens to send Niagara into the half trailing 5-3. Haley Terry made three saves for Niagara in the quarter.

Niagara climbed back on goals by Olivia Ng at 11:27 and Kensington Keane at 9:56, knotting the game up at five. Quinnipiac responded through Julia Givens on a free-position shot to go back up 6-5, but Niagara's Blanding, assisted by Maddy Gill, knotted it again at 6-6.

From there, Quinnipiac went on a 4-1 run. Givens scored twice more, including a goal at 5:17 and again with 31 seconds left while Miller-Ayala added another at 1:09, both of the latter two assisted by Bendowski. 

Delles converted a man-up goal at 3:47, assisted by Bianca McGrayne, to keep Niagara in it, but Delmond also scored man-up for Quinnipiac at 2:53. Niagara ended the third down 10-7.

Niagara's comeback began immediately. After Givens gave Quinnipiac an 11-7 lead just 48 seconds in off a Bendowski assist, the Purple Eagles rattled off three straight goals. Delles scored at 13:05, Olschefskie converted a free-position shot at 12:04, Gill scored at 11:24 following a draw control win.

Quinnipiac called timeout, regrouped, and Delmond scored at 10:23 to push the lead back to two at 12-10. But Niagara would not quit. Delles buried back-to-back man-up goals at 9:37 and 5:51 to tie it at 12-12. Blanding gave the Purple Eagles their first lead of the game with 2:04 remaining in the fourth at 13-12.

Quinnipiac's Miller-Ayala, again assisted by Bendowski, tied it for the final time at 13-13 with 53 seconds remaining, forcing overtime.

Neither team scored in the first six-minute overtime session despite chances on both ends. Terry stopped a Cate Bendowski shot in the final seconds to keep the game alive.

In the second overtime, Partlow won the draw control and scored just seven seconds later the 27th and deciding goal of the game to give Niagara the road victory.

Game Notes

Niagara is now 12-3 all-time against Quinnipiac

Delles scored a season-high five goals

Partlow's game winner was the first game winning goal of her collegiate career

Olschefskie recorded her first hat-trick of the season

Up Next

Niagara returns home to take on Iona Wednesday March 25 at noon.