Late Villa Maria Goal Sinks Merion Mercy, 11-10

After an afternoon of rain, mud and goals, Villa Maria's girls lacrosse team enjoyed a few seconds in the sun as the final seconds counted down to an 11-10 victory over Merion Mercy in Athletic Association of The Catholic Academies action.

To say the contest was a wild one would not do it justice. When the mud-splattered Hurricanes finally finished celebrating their come-from-behind win as the clouds parted briefly, they had endured five lead changes and seven ties. And all that was accomplished with a rookie goaltender in the nets.

The frantic final 10 minutes left both teams totally exhausted when the horn sounded to end the contest. Merion Mercy took a 10-9 lead with 10:04 on the clock on a goal by Madison Connor that erased a two goal Villa lead established a few minutes earlier.

With the Hurricanes back on attack,  Samantha Ostoich worked her way open in front of Merion goalie Catherine Guliday, but the pass to her was high and a golden scoring chance was missed.

But, just two minutes later, Elise Bendinelli found the net and tied the game at 10-10 with 3:26 to play.

The fun was just beginning. The Hurricanes got possession again but couldn't score. Merion took the ball with 2:52 left and appeared ready to control things down the stretch.

But Bendinelli, who played the game off her feet as much as on them, drove to the ground, rolled over and took the ball away from a Merion attacker. She then threw a pass to Carolyn Griesser who broke toward the goal and flipped the ball past Guliday for an 11-10 Hurricanes lead with 2:18 showing.

Merion tried to advance the ball once again, but Griesser came up with a huge defensive play near midfield, knocking it loose and getting possession for the Hurricanes once again. However, as they attempted to run down the clock, Villa lost control and the Golden Bears set for one last push.

Down the field they came, time running down. With 19.2 seconds to play, Bonnie McShane fired wide right of goal, Villa grabbed the ball and remained unbeaten at 8-0 in AACA competition.

The Hurricanes, who defeated Merion 7-5 in the first meeting this season, scored two straight goals to start the contest thanks to Elise Bendinelli and Ostoich but the Bears tied it at 2-2 at 15:11 on one from Emily Corcoran. Villa went ahead 3-2 then Merion Mercy led 4-3 before Jenna Mertz tied it at 4-4 at 6:28.

The Golden Bears proceeded to get offensive for the remainder of the half, as Connor, Corcoran and Olivia Nosinart all scored to give the visitors a 7-4 advantage at the half.

Senior Erin Kelly started the Villa comeback at 22:56 of the second half after she missed a shot, had it bounced right back to her off the goalie, then tossed it past her to make it 7-5. Catherine Bendinelli scored at 21:21 (7-6) and Mertz tied things at 7-7 when she bounced a shot into goal at 18:54. The Merion lead disappeared just 42 seconds later on Kelly's second goal of the half and suddenly, Villa was in charge, 8-7.

Elise Bendinelli added an insurance goal, or so it seemed, at 15:58 (9-7) but Merion scored three goals in 5:54 to set up the final heroics.

Senior Kerry Schubert was playing only her second game in goal for the Hurricanes and considering the conditions and Golden Bears attack, had a busy afternoon, blocking six shots.

Leading the scoring for Villa Maria was Elise Bendinelli with three goals; Catherine Bendinelli, Mertz and Kelly with two apiece; and single tallies from Ostoich and Griesser.

Information on upcoming games

Villa Maria plays Unionville on Wednesday at Kelly Field in West Chester at 5:15 p.m., travels to Germantown Academy on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. then hosts Gwynedd Mercy next Thursday at the same time.