ATLANTA, GA – The Buffalo State women's lacrosse team earned a hard-fought, 12-11, victory over the Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels, finishing their Georgia Trip with a 2-1 record.
 
THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 12, Oglethorpe University - 11
LOCATION: Soccer, Lacrosse, Track and Field – Atlanta, GA
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 7-2 (1-0 SUNYAC), Oglethorpe University: 5-6 (0-1 SAA)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• On the offensive end, Vanessa Willick (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) and Lauren Rinow (Lakeview, NY/Frontier) led the way for the Bengals with a hattrick each, with Rinow finishing the day with the points lead adding an assist. Adding to the scoring column were Kira Grzechowiak (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) with two goals, while Sage Running Rabbit (Siksika, AB, Canada/ Strathmore), Anna Cinquino (Conesus, NY/Livonia), Malenne Vinueza (New York, NY/Frederick Douglas Academy) and Emilee Josker (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) each scoring one-goal today.
• Defensively, Willick led with eight draw controls, with Grzechowiak and Josker each grabbing three. Rinow and Willick led in caused turnovers with two each, while Willick cleaned up in the dirty work department with four groundballs. In net, Brielle Lum (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) held down between the pipes with seven saves.
• As a team, the Bengals outshot the Stormy Petrels 30-24, with the Bengals pulling down 15 draw controls.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In their final matchup of the Georgia trip, the Buffalo State Bengals aimed to leave the state with a winning record as they faced off against the Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels. The game didn't start in their favor, as the Stormy Petrels opened with four unanswered goals to take an early lead. Though the Bengals managed to get on the board late in the first quarter, the Stormy Petrels maintained control of the pace and carried a three-goal advantage into the second.
• The second quarter saw the Bengals battling for position against a strong Stormy Petrels defense. Momentum finally began to shift midway through the period as the Bengals netted two straight goals to pull within one. While the Stormy Petrels responded with two of their own, it would be the Bengals who closed the half with a crucial late goal, cutting the deficit to two heading into halftime.
• After the break, the Bengals came out firing. Buffalo State erupted for seven goals in the third quarter, taking their first lead of the game. Although the Stormy Petrels managed to find the back of the net late in the period, the Bengals answered once again, heading into the final frame with a one-goal edge.
• The fourth quarter lived up to the drama, with the Stormy Petrels tying the game early and both teams fighting tooth-and-nail for possession down the stretch. Thanks to a clutch defensive effort and key saves from Lum in net, the Bengals stayed in it long enough for Willick to bury the game-winning goal with under two minutes to play. The Bengals' defense held strong in the closing seconds, sealing a thrilling comeback victory and capping off a hard-fought Georgia trip on a high note.

FOR THE FOES

• Anna Ramsden led the Stormy Petrels with six goals.
• Tori Perez made nine saves in net for the Stormy Petrels.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will stay on the road, this time back in New York State, as they travel to SUNY Canton and battle the Roos, Saturday, March 29^th at 12:00 P.M.