MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Leading 11-8 with 8:41 left in regulation, the No. 11 Wesleyan women's lacrosse team saw Trinity make a game of it late before the Cardinal defense forced two crucial Bantam turnovers on clearing attempts to ice away a key 11-10 win on Wednesday night. By way of this victory, Wesleyan (9-2, 4-2 NESCAC) leapfrogs Trinity (7-4, 4-3 NESCAC) in the conference standings as the Cardinals are now in sole possession of third place with four league games remaining.
 
The Cardinals seemed to be in control of this one when Kiara Tangney '25 got her hands free and fired in what turned out to be a crucial goal with 8:41 remaining in the fourth quarter that put Wesleyan up 11-8. However, the Bantams put in a late charge when the visitors scored twice in a span of 11 seconds, the second of which scored by Christine Taylor that made it 11-10 with 3:13 remaining.
 
On the ensuing draw control, Trinity continued to build momentum with a win on the draw but Olivia Lai '23 forced a crucial turnover with the Bantams attempting to move the ball upfield into the Cardinal defensive zone. Wesleyan was still unable to cash in on offense as Kate Balicki '23 saw her shot from close range saved by Gabrielle Young.
 
But yet again, it was the Cardinal defense that came up big as this time it was Indigo Pellegrini de Paur '21, G'22 coming up with the caused turnover on Trinity's clearance attempt. She picked up the ground ball and after Wesleyan called timeout to sort out its last minute strategy, Trinity was whistled for two yellow cards trying to force a Cardinal turnover which never came as the final horn sounded on a 11-10 Wesleyan victory.
  In a game that featured several spurts, Trinity went ahead early as Lily Ives put in a pair of goals just 41 seconds apart, the second of which made it 3-1 Bantams, forcing a Wesleyan timeout midway through the first quarter.
 
A stagnant Wesleyan attack broke through with a flurry as four unanswered goals came in the final minutes of the first. Balicki was the beneficiary as she put in three of the four Cardinal goals in the 4-0 run that all came in a span of 1:48.
  Leading 5-3 after one, Trinity tied the score at 5-5 as Ives finished a feed from Caitlyn Buermann to complete her hat trick in the first half. That, however, was the last Trinity goal for well over 22 minutes of action as the next Bantam goal didn't come until there was 1:15 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Taking advantage of a great defensive showing was Lai who netted a natural hat trick – three consecutive goals, uninterrupted by a teammate or opponent – between the second and third quarters. Lai broke loose for an unassisted goal midway through the second before she buried a feed from Kendall Mittleman '23 and later netted a free position goal that made it 8-5 late in the third quarter.
  Lai's free position goal in the third put an end to an extended goalless drought as neither side scored for more than 15 minutes. With the score reading 8-6 Wesleyan heading into the fourth, Laura Baine '24 made it a 9-6 game before Lilianna Khosrowshah scored back-to-back goals in a span of 32 seconds to make it 9-8 Cardinals with 12:31 left.
 
Needing a spark, it was a pair of midfielders who came through in key moments late. Gil Horst '23 scored her first and only goal of the day sprinting from the left wing and finding space to beat Young. Then a few minutes later, it was Kiara Tangney '25 who took the ball at the top of the zone and sprinted to her right. Trying to get her hands free, her speed was enough to create some separation before she fired a shot low and to the left as the first-year's fourth career goal proved to be the game-winner in the end for the Cardinals.
 
Wesleyan was outshot in three of the four quarters as Trinity held a 32-25 edge for the game in shots. Both goalkeepers made nine saves each while Trinity won 14 draws compared to 11 for Wesleyan.
 
Abby Wolk '22 played a big role in the outcome as the senior goalkeeper made a season-high nine saves in net including three that came on free position shots. For the game, Trinity was only 3-of-10 on free position shots.
  Lai tied her career-high with six points (four goals, two assists) for the second straight game. She also had one of the two crucial caused turnovers in the final minutes that kept Trinity on defense when the Bantams were only trailing by one. Lai also continues an incredible streak that has her scoring exactly four goals in seven straight games.
 
Baine and Mittleman each finished with one goal and two assists while Balicki posted her fourth hat trick of the season and her third in the past four games. The defensive effort was led by Reilly Short '23 who tallied three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Julia Noyes '24 finished with three draw controls to lead the field players for Wesleyan.
 
Next up for Wesleyan is another huge NESCAC showdown against a ranked opponent. This time, Wesleyan welcomes No. 10 Tufts to Smith Field for a 1 PM start on Saturday.