BEL AIR, MD – Midfielder Elsa Skinner scored with just 0.7 seconds left to lift the No. 1 Anne Arundel Community College women's lacrosse team to a 15-14 victory over No. 2 Harford in Bel Air, Md., Thursday evening. The win marks the 200th for Head Coach Jim Griffiths, now in his 19th year leading the AACC women's lacrosse program.
The Riverhawks took their first lead of the game with just 3:50 left to play when Skinner sprinted down the field to score while the Riverhawks were down a player due to a yellow card.
With 21 ticks left on the clock, AACC goalkeeper Kaitlyn Evans made a key save on an Owls' free position shot, but Harford corralled the ensuing ball out of bounds and tied it up, 14-14, with 17 seconds left on the clock.
With nine seconds left, Madison Hobbs was awarded the final draw, and Griffiths called a time out as the Riverhawks brought the ball into the box. Hobbs controlled the game-winning play, curling from behind the net to the eight-meter arc on the right side to find Skinner making a hard cut directly in front of the net for Skinner to seal the win.
Harford opened the game on a 4-0 run, and held a 4-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. The teams combined for 11 goals in the second quarter and each scored four times in the third. AACC scored the first three goals in the fourth quarter to cap a four-goal quarter-break run.
Skinner and Madison Shaner each scored four goals and assisted one other to lead the Riverhawks. Hobbs added three goals and two assists. Savanna Reitz and Eva McCormick both scored twice, and Skinner saved the best for last as her only goal of the night.
Evans made 12 saves in net, including five in the fourth quarter alone.
The sweep of the Owls marks the first since 2017 for the Riverhawks, who defeated Harford three times during the 2017 campaign. The two teams are set to meet for a third time this season for the NJCAA Mid-Atlantic District Championship on May 7, 2022, at Siegert Field in Arnold, Md.