WATERBURY, Conn.  – The Thomas Jefferson University women's lacrosse team (10-9) suffered a heartbreaking loss in the CACC Championship Game on Sunday as Dominican (17-2) scored the game-winner 18 seconds into the second overtime to claim the title with a 12-11 victory.
 
It was the first conference championship for the Chargers, who were the tournament's top seed. The second-seeded Rams were making their third appearance in the final in the last four seasons.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dominican started strong, scoring the first three goals and five of the six tallies in the first quarter for a 5-1 advantage. Jefferson rallied with five straight, including outscoring the Chargers 3-0 in the second period, to go ahead 6-5 with 12:48 to go in the third. Five different players scored for the Rams during the stretch.
 
After Dominican evened the score at six, Jefferson had a 4-0 run to lead 10-6 with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Chargers answered with four of their own and the score was tied at 10 with 9:33 left in the fourth. Iris Gluck put the Rams ahead at the 8:44 mark but Dominican netted the equalizer at 6:07. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the final six minutes and the contest went to sudden-victory overtime.
 
Jefferson won the opening draw in the extra session and drew a free-position opportunity. However, the shot missed high. The Chargers had two quality chances to win it at the other end but Melanie Goldstein came up with two huge saves to keep the Rams alive.
 
Jefferson won another draw but turned it over and Goldstein came up with a third save to keep the game going. Dominican forced another turnover and drew a yellow card by the Rams, giving the Chargers a woman-up chance. A shot missed wide as time expired on the first overtime. Dominican was awarded the opening draw of the second overtime via alternate possession and Madelyn Grella cut in from the left side and beat Goldstein to give her team the title just 18 seconds into the period.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Ellie Lefton: 2 goals, 3 assists
Audrey Strock: 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Carina Raymond: 2 goals, 2 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Erin Avanzato: 2 goals, 2 ground balls, 8 draw controls
Iris Gluck: 2 goals, 3 ground balls, 7 draw controls
Madison Caffrey: 2 assists, 1 ground ball, 3 draw controls
Melanie Goldstein: 16 saves
 
NOTES
- Melanie Goldstein's 16 saves was a career high.
 
CACC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Erin Avanzato, Melanie Goldstein, Ellie Lefton, Carina Raymond, and Audrey Strock were named to the CACC All-Tournament Team.