Alexis Townsend – Credit: Lou Marinacci – Pictures of Motion

The 23rd-ranked Florida Tech women’s lacrosse team overcame a 10-2 halftime deficit on Wednesday, only to see Lynn’s Erin Bodner get the game-winning goal with less than 10 seconds left in the first overtime and win 16-15.

It was the first conference win for Lynn and the first against a ranked opponent. Diane Dohler tallied four times and Cailyn Doyle had three to lead the Fighting Knights.

Florida Tech sophomore Rachel Johnson scored all six of her goals in the second half, including the last five Panther tallies. Her goal with 48 seconds left tied the game at 15 and forced overtime. 

Caroline MacLeod finished with a hat-trick while Kailee O’Brien, Alexis Townsend, and Madison Savje all had two apiece. Millie Hurt, Townsend, and Mollie Kaplan each had an assist.

Lynn (1-0) got off and running early in this one, scoring the first six goals of the game against Panthers goalie Emily Harris, who made 14 saves for the Panthers.

Diane Dohler, who led Lynn with four goals on the day, had two of those six. MacLeod scored the first Florida Tech goal with 20:20 left in the first half. She would strike again with 9:25 to go, beating Lynn netminder Annastasia Iliff. 

Dohler would score two more goals before the half ended, giving Lynn a commanding 10-2 lead as the break. Lynn also held a 22-7 shot advantage after 30 minutes.

Florida Tech was a different team when the second half got underway. O’Brien got the first two goals making it 10-4 before Lynn answered with two of their own. 

Johnson’s goal with 19:53 remaining in the half made it 12-5. Townsend would then score two of the next three, closing the gap to 13-7. McLeod and Johnson would follow as the Panthers went on a bit of a run to close the gap to 13-9.

After Doyle put home another to make it 14-9, the Panthers answered with a four-goal spurt as Johnson and Savje traded Panther goals, and all of a sudden, it was 14-13 with 5:15 left.

Doyle would strike again moments later to make it a two-goal game with 1:27 left. Johnson answered that 22 seconds later and got the Panthers within one again, 15-14. Johnson would cap off her phenomenal night with her sixth of the night with 48 seconds left.

The first overtime was winding down before Bodner scored her only goal of the game, allowing Lynn to escape with a 16-15 home win.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Lynn Box Score

The Panthers (0-2) outscored the Fighting Knights 9-7 in the second half and outshot them 19-13. Lynn would get the better of the Panthers in the shot category 37-27, including 2-1 in the decisive overtime period.

Lynn held a decisive advantage in ground balls, 26-17 and despite a 12-7 advantage on draw controls for Florida Tech in the second half, Lynn was one better in the category, 17-16.

Florida Tech will open their home season against Saint Leo on Saturday, March 27 at 1:00 p.m.