BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The Notre Dame lacrosse team was in action Wednesday evening in the first round of the Colonial States Athletic Conference playoffs.  NDMU fell behind early to the Lions, but a late surge to close out the first half helped force the game to overtime.

To open the game, the Gators struggled to get on the board.  In the opening five minutes, Notre Dame fell down early, 2-0 before firing off their first shot. 

With 11 minutes left in the first half, Bryn Athyn scored their 5^th consecutive goal as the Gators faced an uphill battle down, 0-5.

Notre Dame snapped their scoreless run with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.  Freshman Katie Hawkins scored her ninth goal of the season, assisted by freshman Julie Hagis.

With time running out in the first half, sophomore Marie Salas made a free position save to help start the Gators' final offensive transition of the half.

In a man-up situation, senior Kirstin McGee scored her first goal of the game off a free position shot.  Notre Dame went into the half down three, 2-5.

In the second half, the Gators came out firing.  They went on a 3-0 run in the opening nine minutes of the second half to get back to even.  Hagis, junior Jessica Wells, and senior Megan Morales scored with McGee and senior Peace Ani assisting in the scores.

A minute after Notre Dame tied up the game, Bryn Athyn retook the lead.

Another score by the Lions with 18 minutes left in the half, again saw the NDMU down two, 5-7.

Over the next seven minutes of play, Notre Dame held the momentum.  Back-to-back goals by McGee and Morales tied the game up again, this time at seven apiece.

With just less than 10 minutes left in regulation, Morales gave the Gators their first lead of the game, 8-7.

The Lions evened the score again with seven left to play, 8-8. 

With just less than two minutes left to play, freshman Stephanie Morgan had a goal called back that would've given the team a late advantage over the Lions.  Time expired, forcing the game to overtime.

In the lone overtime period, the Gators won the opening draw to give them the first offensive possession. 

McGee drew a foul in the eight meter, giving the Gators the first shot of overtime.  The Lions saved the free position shot, but Ani secured the groundball to keep Gators with the offensive advantage. 

In her second shot attempt of the OT period, McGee scored the game-winning-goal assisted by Ani to send the Gators to their first CSAC Championship game.

McGee and Morales combined for six of the team's nine goals against the Lions.  Hagis, Wells, and Hawkins added one apiece.  Ani led the team with two assists, while McGee and Hagis added one apiece. 

With her three goals, Morales crosses into 300 career points.

Goalie Salas had a strong game in goal for the Gators.  She posted 15 saves, only allowing two free position shots. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Notre Dame is headed to the CSAC Championship for the first time since joining the conference in 2007.  With Keystone currently leading Rosemont 20-0 in the CSAC Semifinals, the Gators will most likelyl face Keystone in LaPlume, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m.