FOND DU LAC, Wis. -- The Augustana Vikings women's lacrosse team overcame the Marian Sabres on Saturday by a score of 12-11.
Marian scored early in the first quarter to grab the lead but Augie followed with two of its own. Madison Langewisch collected a successful shot with an assist from Kyla Painter before Anna Erickson tallied another off of a pass from Langewisch to make a 2-1 score. The Sabres closed the quarter with three points to lead 4-2 after 15 minutes of play.
In a big second quarter, Marian secured its first goal and the Vikings followed with four in a row to regain the lead. Elena Bechard notched back-to-back goals starting at 12:12 in a woman-up situation and again at 11:58 to bring the team within a point. An unassisted tally by Langewisch evened the game at five apiece before Colleen Chiavola clasped the advantage off of another unassisted strike. Marian tied the game at 6-6, but the Vikings secured two goals in the final 20 seconds of the quarter. With 18 seconds remaining, Becca Lacina added a point for the Vikings from Painter before seeing another hit the back of the net with five seconds left to create a two-point gap heading into halftime.
Returning to the field, both teams remained scoreless until 2:53 when Langewisch secured her third goal of the game to stretch the advantage to 9-6. The Sabres got within two, but Chiavola tallied another with 1:33 remaining to bring the difference back to three entering the final quarter.
In the fourth, Marian obtained three goals to even the game at 10 apiece before Langewisch found the back of the net in a woman-up situation to regain the lead. The Sabres drew even again at 11-11, but Langewisch put in the game-winner at 3:19 to help secure the victory for Augie.
Langewisch led the way with five goals in the win. Chiavola caused three turnovers, while Bechard won six draw controls and Dylon Karjalahti saved six shots in net.
With the win, the Vikings move to 3-2 on the season and will return to Thorson-Lucken Field on Wednesday, March 12 to battle Beloit.
