VILLANOVA, Pa. – The William & Mary lacrosse team opened its season with a thrilling 14-13 comeback victory at Villanova on Saturday afternoon.
 
After knotting the score at 13-13 on a free position goal with 3:16 remaining, freshman Serena Jacobs found the back of the cage again when she fired the game-winner with just 2:17 on the clock. It was her third goal of the contest, all of which came in the fourth quarter.
 
Freshman goalie Elise Palmer helped preserve the victory with multiple saves in the final minutes, as she finished her impressive collegiate debut with 16 stops, which ranks tied for the fifth-best performance in school history.
 
W&M trailed by five at halftime, 8-3, but rallied back with a tremendous third quarter in which it utilized a 5-0 run to knot the count at 10-10 late in the frame. Senior Lauren Russell was pivotal in the comeback, as she totaled four of her career-high seven goals in the second half.
 
Tribe Standouts
Russell led the Tribe with eight points (6g, 2a), which ranks tied for the seventh-most points in school history. Additionally, her six goals, which came on just seven shots, ranks tied for the 10th-best single-game total ever by a W&M player. The Denver, Colo., native also added two ground balls and a caused turnover.
 
In addition to scoring the game-winner in her collegiate debut, Jacobs tallied her hat trick on just four shot attempts.
 
Senior Belle Martire also provided offensive production with three points (1g, 2a), all of which came in the second half.
 
Palmer played all 60 minutes in goal for the Tribe and recorded a game-high 16 saves with a .552 save percentage.
 
Sophomore Kathleen Cozzi equaled a career high with five ground balls.


 
Inside the Numbers
Although Villanova outshot the Tribe, 39-26, and posted eight more shots on goal (29-21), W&M held a significant advantage in saves (16-7).
 
The Wildcats owned margins in draw controls (19-11) and ground balls (19-15), while they committed five fewer turnovers (14-19).

The Opposition
Addie Fischer led Villanova with four goals, while Libby McKenna, Cara Moreau and Alexa Tsahalis all recorded two goals apiece.
 
Caroline Curnal tallied a game-high 13 draw controls, while Hannah Driscoll registered three caused turnovers and two ground balls.
 
Notes
W&M improves to 36-16-1 all-time in season openers … Martire's three points moves her up to T17th on W&M's career list (132) … Her goal moves her into a tie for 14th all-time at W&M (113) … Ten freshmen earned playing time for the Tribe … W&M improves to 2-1 all-time against Villanova.
 
Up Next
W&M will return to action when it plays at Richmond next Tuesday at 5 p.m.