TIFFIN, Ohio – After battling to a 13-12 score in the regular season, No. 2 Findlay and No. 1 Tiffin left it all on the field once against to determine a victor in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship.
This time, on Saturday, it was the Oilers who had the upper hand to secure their first league championship tournament trophy.
The margin of error was so slim for each team on both ends of the field yet again as Findlay was on the winning end of a 9-8 final score this time around.
UF was the preseason coaches poll favorite but witnessed the first-year league member Dragons take the regular-season conference title and top playoff seed.
The rivalry between the two schools featured a handful of all-conference performers from both sides, including Great Midwest Defensive Player of the Year Brittany Stephens (UF) and Great Midwest Offensive Player of the Year Elle Hamilton (TU).
A four-team bracket was trimmed down to the championship matchup after No. 3 Walsh and No. 4 Lake Erie were both eliminated in the semifinal round.
Brie Caruso was the ultimate hero in this one, cashing in on the game winner with 3:34 left in regulation, part of a huge fourth period as the Findlay outscored Tiffin, 5-2.
Just moments earlier, Findlay had come back to tie things up at 8-8 courtesy of Jacelyn Litman in a man-up situation.
The Dragons had seized control in the first half in front of their home crowd with a 6-4 advantage. Despite being outshot 18-10 by halftime, four-time defensive player of the week Amie Morrison scored to give her team a 3-2 lead and the senior defender scored once more before the break for a 6-2 edge.
The Oilers roared back and Ciara Burud found the net from Hannah Peebles; both UF standouts were on the all-conference team and earned players of the week distinction this spring.
Maddy Batley answered with 7:32 left in regulation to put Tiffin back up by one, but Litman’s equalizer and Caruso’s game winner were key moments down the stretch.
Stephens caused the game’s final turnover with 1:14 left on the clock, thwarting TU’s final bid to rally and force overtime.
Findlay finished the season with a 10-9 overall record while Tiffin concluded its maiden voyage in the Great Midwest with a 12-7 overall mark.