Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/6/26
From Press Release & Staff Report
A Natalia Willoughby (Chichester) free position goal in the final minute proved to be the difference as Eastern University Women’s Lacrosse picked up an 11-10 win over Gwynedd Mercy today. The bounce-shot with 30 seconds on the clock was Willoughby’s fifth goal of the afternoon. Tori Benjamin also starred with 15 saves in goal.
In a game with 28 green cards and seven yellow cards, the Eagles (1-1) took advantage of their final extra-player chance to pull back ahead. Eastern never led by three but did not trail in the second half. The game was tied eight times. The goal, however, did not end it. With the light fading, the Eastern defense still needed one more stop.
Gwynedd-Mercy got a contest shot from in close, but good pressure forced it wide and Benajamin won the race to the goal line to secure possession and end the game.
With Morgan Wallace (Middletown-De) picking up her second yellow card just before halftime, the Eagles had to make adjustments on offense, defense and the draw. Players at all three levels had to step up. Anaelis Morales scored four times and Gracie Horton (Kingsway Regional) had a pair of goals and three assists.
Addison Whitaker had four caused turnovers, but when she went out with injury early in the fourth quarter and Eastern up a goal, the Eagles had more adjustments to make.
After Gwynedd’s Kira Bradley (5G) put the guest up with her fifth of the day with 11 minutes left. Horton fed Morales from the top for a goal on the crease for a 10-9 lead. Morales, who wrestled for the Eagles all winter, was also effective on the clear and made an impact on defense with four caused turnovers and three ground balls.
The Griffins tied the game at 10 with another extra-player tally with just less than three minutes to play. The Eagles won the ensuing draw, but could not convert on the initial possession. The Eagles set their ride and Seana Rogers forced a turnover and scooped a ground ball to give her squad another shot. The Eagles got a clock reset with green card and another reset on a yellow card and Willoughby scored to put her team in the win column.
Gwynedd Mercy (0-5) had much to celebrate in defeat. Before the game’s dramatic end, senior attack Bradley (Neshaminy) recorded the 100th point of her collegiate career with her third goal of the contest (6-6, 0:59 2QTR), sophomore midfielder Elena Colliluori (Pop John Paul II) recorded the 100th draw control of her collegiate career on the ensuing restart, and Bradley recorded the 100th caused turnover of her collegiate career with a strip off the first draw control of the third quarter (15:00). Bradley also had, three grounds balls, two draw controls, and her two caused turnovers. Colliluori totaled nine draw controls in all, leaving her career total at 101; she also recorded four points (1 goal, 3 assists), seven ground balls, and three caused turnovers.
