LAKE FOREST, ILL.—The 2022 Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) Tournament Championship Game was upon the No. 2 seed Pipers, who traveled to first-year varsity program and No. 1 seed Lake Forest on Saturday. Analisa Aragon's goal with 0:36 left in overtime gave the Pipers a 13-12 (OT) victory over the Foresters, and their fifth-straight MWLC Tournament Title. This marked the first-ever overtime game in the history of the MWLC Tournament Championship Game.
The Pipers, who improve to 7-7, earned the MWLC's automatic qualifier into the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship. The selection show will air at www.ncaa.com on Monday, May 9 at 10:30 a.m. (ET). Lake Forest sees its inaugural campaign end with an 11-4 record.
Hamline 13, Lake Forest 12 (OT)
Five lead changes occurred in the contest, as the final one in regulation belonged to Lake Forest with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter when Abby Meyer's fifth goal of the game gave her team a 12-11 lead.
The Foresters won the ensuing draw control, but that didn't faze Hamline's Tara DeLeo as her caused turnover and ground ball set up Maitland Luksan's fifth goal of the game with 1:22 remaining in regulation that made the score 12-12.
The overtime session's lone shot found the back of the net, courtesy of Aragon from Maria Lewis with 0:36 left in overtime that gave Hamline a 13-12 victory, and fifth-straight MWLC Tournament Title.
Luksan paced Hamline with five goals, while Molly Garin's 10 draw controls was arguably the game's turning point. Garin added two goals and two assists for four points to her stat line. Aragon and Taryn Leonard each netted a pair of goals, while Lewis notched a team-best three assists along with one goal. Leonard scooped a game-high four ground balls.
Lake Forest out shot Hamline 33-20, but it was the draw control battle that propelled the Pipers as they held a 16-12 advantage.
Justine Case made 12 saves between the pipes for Hamline, while Calliope Saban stopped five shots in goal for Lake Forest.
The Pipers will embark on their fifth all-time appearance in the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament.
