University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
5-2, 1-0BIG EAST
Marquette University
3-4, 0-1BIG EAST
LaPrise Scores SIx as Huskies Win BIG EAST Opener
3/19/2021 7:36:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
MILAWAUKEE, Wisc. – The UConn women's lacrosse team got a career-best six goals from junior Lia LaPrise (Windsor, Conn.) and a key defensive stop in the final minute to secure a 14-13 win at Marquette in the BIG EAST opener for both schools Friday afternoon.
The Huskies moved to 5-2 on the season while Marquette is now 3-4 overall. The two teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon to close out their conference weekend series.
In addition to LaPrise's big offensive day, classmate Grace Coon (Marcellus, N.Y.) also had a career-high in the win, putting four in the back of the cage. Senior Sydney Watson (Prince Fredrick, Md.) scored a pair, including the game-winner, and added a pair of assists to go with a game-high nine draw controls.
The Huskies got out to a fast start and jumped out to a 4-1 lead as LaPrise scored the game's frist two goals. The Golden Eagles found some offense as Caroline Steller scored her team's first three goals and fueled a three-goal rally that gave Marquette a 5-4 lead with under 10 to go in half.
UConn closed the half strong, keeping Marquette at bay for the final 6:28 while Coon scored twice and LaPrise ended the half with a goal for an 8-6 lead at the break.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair that saw six ties and six lead changes before the final horn. The Golden Eagles opened with the first two and then Marquette capped a 4-1 run to take a 10-9 lead at 6:15. Coon scored two-straight and put the Huskies back up, 11-10, before the lead would change hands twice more as LaPrise's sixth goal put the Huskies up 13-12 with 5:51 left.
Marquette knotted the game at 13-13 with 3:12 left on a Hannah Greving goal but right off the ensuing draw UConn went to Watson and she delivered with what would be the game-winner just 30 seconds later. The Golden Eagles got possession and a time-out with 1:20 left to setup a final shot. Megan Menzuber got a look but junior Landyn White (Alpharetta, Ga.) made the stop and the Huskies were able to run out the final 38 seconds to secure the win.
The Huskies had a 32-27 shot advantage and White stopped six to get the win. Marquette's Steller finished with five goals while Greving added three.
