The SUNY Oneonta women's lacrosse team took its rival SUNY Cortland to the brink today before falling short 17-15.  The two squads competed for most of the game in a light snow shower, which caused the field to be a bit slick, but it didn't affect the play on the field.
 
With the score tied at 13 apiece with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, Cortland (10-4, 5-0 SUNYAC) appeared to seize the momentum scoring four unanswered goals.  Sophomore Lexie Meager scored two of her three goals for the game during the run.
 
Oneonta (6-6-1, 2-3 SUNYAC) pressured late and scored a pair to get close with 25 seconds remaining.  Oneonta won the ensuing draw but couldn't get another shot off and time expired.
 
A couple of highlights from the game for Oneonta was junior Kelsey Cohen (Baldwin/Baldwin) registering her 100^th collegiate goal.  Cohen buried a free position goal at the 9:45 mark of the second half to reach the milestone.  10 seconds later she scored again to pull Oneonta to within a goal at 13-12.  Cohen finished the contest with four goals.
 
Junior Lauren Bascelli (Williston Park/Herricks) tied the game at 13 when she capped a run of five straight goals for Oneonta.
 
Today's second highlight was senior Taylor Casey (Garden City South/Kellenberg Memorial) scoring a career high seven goals in the game.  Casey has a team-leading 44 goals this season.
 
Freshman Sophia Calabrese (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central) got things rolling for Oneonta in the second minute of the game taking a feed from senior Jaime Morris (West Nyack/Clarkstown South).  Morris finished the game with three helpers and Calabrese added another goal and three assists for four points today.
 
Back-to-back goals by Casey gave Oneonta a 3-1 lead at the 12:22 mark of the opening half.  Morris assisted on the first goal and Cohen assisted on the second goal.
 
Cortland countered with four unanswered over a two-minute span to grab a 5-3 lead.  Senior Katie Wolfe led the charge with a pair of goals.  Sophomore Baylee Ojeda contributed one goal and an assist.  Ojeda added a second assist later to finish the game with three points.
 
Cortland created some breathing room late, but a goal by Casey in the final minute of the first half cut Cortland's advantage to 11-8 entering halftime.
 
Wolfe and freshman Hannah Tiso opened the scoring in the second half to give Cortland its largest lead of the game at 13-8.  Tiso was Cortland's leader today with four goals and two assists.  Wolfe, Meager and Molly Newton all scored three goals in the game.
 
Sophomore goalie Lexi Keen (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) kept Oneonta in the game making 15 saves.
 
Cortland outshot Oneonta 39-21 in the game, but both teams were equal in draws (17-17) and ground balls (14-14).  Oneonta converted four of its six free position shot attempts while Cortland was two-of-five.
 
Oneonta will play its final home game of the regular season this Saturday against Buffalo State beginning at 12pm.