DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A last-minute goal was the difference-maker in a game between two nationally ranked women's lacrosse teams and the top two teams in the Sunshine State Conference on Wednesday. In the end, it was ninth-ranked Rollins (11-0, 2-0) who managed to get by 12th-ranked Embry-Riddle (11-1, 1-1) 11-10 in both teams' second SSC contest of the year.
 
The contest between the two top-12 teams and the last two undefeated teams in the league lived up to its billing. Wednesday's game was a defensive battle that was fiercely contested for all 60 minutes with neither team able to get much separation.
 
The Eagles scored the first goal of the game and had a 3-2 edge at the end of the first quarter, but the Tars recorded their own 3-2 advantage in the second period, and at the half, the score was knotted at 5-5.
 
Rollins won the third-quarter battle as the Tars limited the Eagles to just one goal during that 15-minute stretch. Goals by Caroline Gastonguay and Abigail DeGroat helped Rollins open a 9-6 lead heading into the fourth, which marked ERAU's largest deficit of the season.
 
The start of the fourth quarter featured more stout defense from both sides as the teams combined for just one look at the goal in the first four and a half minutes of the period. Alexa Zeruto ended the scoring drought, finishing a Murphy McDonough pass to make it 9-7, and subsequent scores by Kenley Zeruto and Sallie Squire pulled the Eagles level with the Tars at 9-9 with 8:32 left to play.
 
Rollins finally got their first goal of the fourth at the 5:51 mark, but Squire answered just over a minute later, resulting in a 10-10 deadlock with 4:16 remaining.
 
After a series of turnovers and missed shots by both teams, the Tars had a successful clear with 1:14 left. Rollins called a timeout and they were able to convert the conversation into a goal as Charlotte Gastonguay scored to put the Tars back in front by one with 52 seconds on the clock.
 
The Tars won the ensuing draw control and kept the Eagles at bay in the closing seconds to come away with the win.
 
Squire led all scorers with five goals, while Elizabeth Ninesling chipped in three goals and won five draws.
 
Caroline Gastonguay led the Tars' offense with four goals and two assists.
 
The Eagles continue conference play on Saturday when the head south to take on Lynn at 3 p.m. in Boca Raton.