Women’s lacrosse: Comeback falls short in Olivet’s 17-12 loss to Albion

OLIVET, Mich. – A comeback came up short for the Olivet College women's lacrosse team as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College slipped past the Comets, 17-12, today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Britons led 9-3 behind goals by seven different players. Freshman Krystin Verran scored Olivet's first two goals, while senior Brittany Hayes had the third goal with 42 seconds left before halftime.

In the second half, Albion stretched its cushion to nine goals, 14-5, around the midway point. The Comets then scored three straight goals, including two in an 11-second span, to make the score 14-8. The Britons netted two goals to go up 16-8. Olivet battled back and scored four consecutive goals – two each for seniors Taylor Guarnaccia and Mackenzie Inman – in a 90-second span to trim its deficit down to four, 16-12, with 4:12 left in the game. Albion scored once more and kept the Comets off the scoreboard in the final four minutes.

The stat lines for both teams were nearly identical. Olivet had a slight 31-30 edge in shots, while the Britons scooped up two more ground ball, 22-20, and were 12-of-16 on clears to 9-of-16 for the Comets. Olivet won 17 draws to 14 for Albion.

Guarnaccia and Inman both had six total points on four goals and two assists apiece. Inman took 11 shots, placing nine on-goal, while Guarnaccia had nine shots, placing seven on-goal. Hayes and Verran each scored twice. Guarnaccia won six draw controls, an Inman and senior Geri Merrell had five apiece.

Sophomore Xavier Vance and junior Hailey Bond split time in the goal. Vance played 25 minutes and 48 minutes, while Bond played the remaining 34 minutes and 12 seconds.

The Comets play at Saint Mary's (Ind.) College next Tuesday, April 7. Game time is 5 p.m.