ASTON, Pa.--Eastern Women's Lacrosse sophomore Anna Charlebois scored the game-winning goal with 45 seconds left to lead Eastern to a 9-8 victory over the Neumann University Knights on Saturday.
Charlebois, who scored a game-high five goals, netted the decisive fifth goal on a free-position shot. She ripped the goal top shelf from the left hash.
Charlebois also recorded two assists to finish with a seven-point day.
Freshman Victoria Rath scored twice for the Eagles and Julie Haggan and Stephanie Hogan each added a goal. Eagles' goalie Cortney Andes picked up the win with seven saves.
Neumann (1-3) doubled up Eastern in the first half, out-scoring Eastern 6-3. Charlebois scored the first two Eastern goals, tying the game at 1-1 and then pulling Eastern within two goals at 4-2.
Rath, after receiving an assist from Steph Biancucci, scored her first of the day to cut Neumann's lead in half again at 6-3 with nine minutes left in the first period. Eastern held Neumann scoreless the final nine minutes of the first half and the first 15 minutes of the second half in what coach Kim Campbell called a total team defensive effort.
Hogan scored on a free-posiiton goal for the first tally of the second half, chipping away at Neumann's lead. Unfortunately, five minutes later, the Eagles would have to play the rest of the game without Hogan as she received her second yellow card and was disqualified. The team rose to the challenge and kept pace with the Knights.
Charlebois scored a player-up goal with 5:27 remaining to bring Eastern within one. Neumann called a timeout with 3:45 to go. Campbell said that as Eastern huddled during the timeout, she could sense the confidence in her players that they could get the job done. The Eagles recovered the ball from Neumann after Eva Ehrhardt forced a turnover. That paved the way for Haggan to score the game-tying goal with 2:21 left.
With 1:20 to go, Cortney Andes recorded a save and sent Eastern on the clear. Charlebois earned a free-position shot after a shooting-space violation and then buried the game-winner.
Neumann took the next draw control, but the Knights' attempt with 15 seconds to go was blocked and The Eagles recovered to secure the win.
Eastern (2-5) plays at home on Thursday against Swarthmore College at 4 p.m.
Box Score
