COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 18, 2012) – The Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team suffered a heartbreaking 9-8 overtime setback to Colorado College this afternoon at Stewart Field despite three goals apiece from midfielders Kirsten Kilburn and Hilary Bombard. In addition to recording her eighth career hat trick, Bombard also piled up a career-best eight ground balls for the Lyons, who entered the contest with a perfect 3-0 mark.
After falling behind 7-2, Colorado staged a furious rally over the final 23 minutes over regulation to send the contest to overtime. Senior attacker Leslie Jacoby then scored what proved to be the winner off an assist from first year midfielder Leigh Nicholl 2:40 into the extra session. With the win, the Tigers improved to 4-0 on the year.
Kilburn has now scored three goals or more in each of her first four collegiate outings. Mount Holyoke's remaining tallies came from junior attackers Molly Macdonald and Christina Horimoto.
Colorado was paced by Jacoby and junior midfielder Ginna Oates, who found the back of the net two times apiece. Nicholl, junior midfielder Ellie Cole and first year attacker Madeline Pitkin added one goal and once assist each.
The Lyons built a 5-2 advantage at the half thanks to two goals apiece from Bombard and Kilburn. Kilburn's third tally of the day put the guests in front 7-2 just over four minutes into the second stanza.
Refusing to go away, Colorado responded with four straight goals to slice the deficit to 7-6 at the 10:35 mark. Oates sparked the rally with back-to-back tallies over a span of 1:40.
A goal by Horimoto gave Mount Holyoke some breathing room, but Cole scored at the 7:55 mark to cut the lead to 8-7. Pitkin then took advantage of a free position opportunity to knot things up with 4:25 remaining in regulation.
After seven minutes of scoreless play, Jacoby recorded the winner 2:40 into overtime. Mount Holyoke's lone shot in the extra session came from Macdonald.
Colorado (4-0, 2-0 SCAC) finished with advantages in shots (29-20), draw controls (13-8) and ground balls (31-22).
Junior goalkeeper Abby Fink made 10 saves for the Tigers.
At the other end, junior Jamie Theophilos got the start between the pipes for the Lyons. She turned away 12 shots over the first 49:25 before giving way to junior Liz Malenfant. Malenfant came up with one save down the stretch.
Mount Holyoke (3-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) will close out its spring break trip against Carthage College on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
Outside photo by Leila Quinn '12
