AACC Women's Lacrosse Beats Top-Ranked Monroe

's Duane Herr provided Patch this report on the women's lacrosse team's victory over Monroe Community College on Thursday. 

In a rematch of last year’s national championship game, second-ranked hosted top-seeded Monroe Community College on April 12. The two undefeated powers faced off at 4 p.m. and the excitement would not end for the next 70 minutes of play.

Monroe struck first, scoring the first goal of the game. The Pioneers immediately responded as Nina Herron found the net to tie the game at the 27-minute mark. Monroe would jump out to an early 5-2 lead as the Pioneers struggled to possess the ball on offense. With the half winding down, AACC clawed their way back to close Monroe’s lead to 6-4 at the end of the half.

At the start of the second half, the Pioneers settled in and worked their offense. Outscoring Monroe in the early minutes of the half, AACC found themselves tied with the reigning National Champs 8-8, as Meghenn Jackson scored her third goal of the game with 17 minutes remaining. Monroe took a 9-8 lead with just under 13 minutes left and again the Pioneers would tie it, this time on a Mary Milligan goal with 11 minutes left.

Finding themselves down 11-9 with less than a minute remaining in the game the Pioneers looked toward their strong offense for a pair of goals to hopefully send the game to over time. With the clock reading 50 seconds, Nina Herron connected with Erika Arrildt for AACC’s 10th goal. Needing just one goal to keep their hopes alive the Pioneers attacked the goal and with 6.4 seconds left on the clock; Arrildt lined up for an 8-meter shot and found the net again to tie the game 11-11.

With the game entering a three minute overtime period, the Pioneers struck first to go ahead 12-11 on another goal from Jackson. Their lead would last into the final minute of the overtime period, but Monroe scored with just eight seconds left to tie the game at 12 and force a second overtime.

Both teams were unable to score in the second overtime period sending the game to a final sudden victory period to determine which squad would remain undefeated.

After starting the scoring with the first goal in the game for the Pioneers, Nina Herron would finish it scoring on a fast break to win the game and improve AACC women’s lacrosse to a 13-0 mark this season. Despite playing a spectacular game, Monroe’s record falls to 7-1.

Stats for AACC vs. Monroe:

• Mary Milligan: five goals, one assist
• Meghenn Jackson: four goals, one assist
• Nina Herron: two goals, one assist (scored winning goal)
• Jordyn Childress: one assist
• Katie Cox: one assist
• Erika Arrildt: two goals, one assist
• Karlee Zywusko: one assist

The Pioneer women’s lacrosse team (13-0, 5-0 MD JUCO) will be back in action Tuesday, April 17 when they host No. 7 CCBC Catonsville  (4-6, 1-4 MD JUCO) in a 7 p.m. matchup. AACC defeated Catonsville 17-10 on March 29.

Duane Herr is physical education and athletics assistant at AACC. You can contact him at dpherr@aacc.edu.