University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
10-2, 1-1BIG EAST
Denver
12-1, 2-0BIG EAST
Watson Sets Career Scoring Record; No. 20 Huskies Drop OT Heartbreaker at No. 8 Denver
4/9/2022 4:32:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
DENVER – Taking No. 8 Denver to overtime, the Pioneers delivered the golden goal just over a minute into extra time as the No. 20 UConn women's lacrosse team dropped a 14-13 heartbreaker Saturday afternoon at Peter Barton Stadium.
Senior Sydney Watson highlighted the day by breaking the program's career scoring record, slotting in her 187th career goal with 10:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Furthermore, Watson broke her own single-game draw controls record with 20 wins, breaking the mark she set two weeks ago.
Watson and junior Kate Shaffer led all players with six points apiece, with Watson dishing out a game-high four assists, while Shaffer and senior Grace Coon each netted hat tricks.
Watson started the game on fire, delivering the record-tying goal before finding Coon in front of the net to give the Huskies thie first lead two minutes into action. Watson continued to fuel the attack as she fed Shaffer for back-to-back goals, though the Pioneers responded with three straight scores to tie it up at 4-all at the end of the opening quarter.
Shaffer buried a free position shot into the bottom corner before senior Lia LaPrise arced a feed to fellow senior Stephanie Palmucci to put UConn on top, 6-4. Junior Madelyn George stroked a free position shot in the final minutes of the half as the Huskies held a 7-6 edge at the break.
Palmucci, Watson and Coon pushed the advantage to 10-8 midway through the third, but Denver sent in the next two scores to tie it up. From there, both teams exchanged goals in a frenzy as the scoreboard remained knotted at 12-12 heading into the fourth.
Denver took its first lead since the opening goal with just under 10 minutes left until George tied it up for the sixth time just over a minute later. Neither team would score again in regulation as the game headed into overtime, where the Pioneers would deliver the game-winning goal on their first offensive possession.
UConn will return to Storrs as it hosts Villanova on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
