Gatti's Golden Goal Grounds Griffins

Monday, February 26

Eugene, OR

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

2-1

Canisius

0-3

Canisius

Oregon

02/26/18 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 12, Canisius 11

EUGENE, Ore. – Senior Mariah Gatti netted Oregon lacrosse's first overtime win since 2013, scoring on a late free position shot to give UO a 12-11 victory over Canisius Monday afternoon on the UO rec fields.

How it Happened: After a goal in the final minutes from the visiting Griffins' Jourdan Roemer knotted the game at 11, the Ducks (2-1) headed into their first overtime period since the 2015 season.

UO secured the opening draw of overtime, but could not convert giving Canisius a shot at ending the game in the golden goal period. With one minute left to go before the break, Canisius managed to slip around the UO defense and score to seemingly escape with the victory. But as the Griffins celebrated and the Ducks hung their heads the refs huddled together.

After a short meeting, the goal was waved off due to an infraction following the goal and play was restarted giving Oregon one more chance at the victory.

After both teams switched sides at the three minute mark, Oregon once again started with possession as Lexy Biller recorded her ninth draw control of the game. The Ducks worked it around to find Gatti who missed wide with a shot, but was fouled on the play giving her a free position attempt.

Gatti, poised at the eight-meter hash, opted to rip a shot at the whistle instead of charging the goal, slinging the ball into the back of the net to secure the victory for Oregon.

The Ducks fought hard throughout regulation to send the game into overtime trailing by as much as four goals early in the game.

Both teams traded goals to open Monday's game, with Gatti netting her first goal of the game to tie it 2-2 at the 24:19 mark. From there, the Griffins would record the next four goals, two from CU's Jen Reininger, to take a 6-2 lead with 12 and a half minutes left in the first half.

UO closed out the period on a 3-0 run with goals from Gatti, Jill Zubillaga and Shannon Williams to send the Ducks into halftime trailing 6-5.

Williams kept the momentum going for Oregon, scoring a goal less than 20 seconds into the second half to knot the game up 6-6.

Canisius finally halted the Ducks run with a goal from Roemer to put the Griffins back in front 7-6, but back-to-back goals from Cambi Cukar and Gatti gave UO its first lead of the game, 8-7, at the 18:08 mark.

The Griffins answered with a 3-0 run to retake the lead, but the Ducks would come right back with a three goal run of their own to lead 11-10 with less than five minutes left, forcing a late goal from Canisius to send it into overtime.

Who Stood Out: Gatti gave the Ducks some huge minutes leading the team with five goals, tying her career high … Both Zubillaga and Williams recorded hat tricks against Canisius.

Notable: With her three goals today, Williams has now recorded at least three goals in all three games so far this season … Biller continued to impress recording nine draw controls to give her 27 draw controls over the first three games.

Box Score: The Ducks recorded 17 draw controls in the game compared to nine for Canisius … UO recorded the only three shots in overtime, outshooting the Griffins 35-21 in the game … Canisius' Rebecca VanLaeken kept the Griffins in it recording 16 saves, 11 in the second half, to help send the game into overtime.

Quotable: Head Coach Katrina Dowd
On the ruling that disallowed Canisius' goal…
"It's a tough rule. I have to say that's a tough way for Canisius to lose the game. It's a tough rule, but it is a part of the rule book. You know it's tough, the girls are celebrating and they happen to drop their sticks, and I saw it, and sometimes you get lucky."

On Gatti's five-goal performance…
"It's a testament to her. Ever since the Syracuse game her shooting has been on. She's been taking her time … her mental focus is sharp right now."

Senior Mariah Gatti
On the disallowed overtime goal…
"Honestly, I just looked up to the sky and was like 'oh my God, they just defeated us.' That was a sick shot, and then everyone started huddling around and they called it back. I was like this is our time, it was meant to be, so I'm just so glad we had another chance."

Up Next: The Ducks will hit the road for their first true road game of the season, heading to Maryland to face No. 10 Towson Saturday, Mar. 3, at 12 p.m. PT.