NORTHFIELD, Vt. – April 26, 2023 – The Dean College women's lacrosse team erased a 5-goal deficit in the fourth quarter and scored just over a minute into overtime to secure a 15-14 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win at Norwich.  

The Bulldogs (9-8, 7-6 GNAC) have secured a spot in the GNAC Tournament becoming the first Dean's women's program to do so. The seedings and pairings will be announced at the conclusion of Wednesday's games. Dean has set program records for overall wins and conference victories this season.

Senior Maire Brown (Huntington, N.Y.) scored nine times and added an assist, six draw controls, four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Sophomore Haley Gaunt (Johnston, R.I.) scored four goals, including the game-winner in overtime. Sophomore Nina Medeiros (Fairhaven, Mass.) tallied game-highs of seven draw controls and six caused turnovers to go with a goal.

The Cadets were led by Maddie Etherton and Ellie Moriarty who each scored three times. Athena Merck and Michaila Furchak added two goals apiece.

First-year goalie Allie Stockwell (Burrillville, R.I.) finished with nine stops to earn the win for Dean. Maeve Noble-Lowe had 11 saves for Norwich.

Norwich sandwiched a couple of goals around a Gaunt tally for Dean to lead 14-9 with 9:37 left to play in regulation. Brown then scored three times in the span of three minutes to cut the deficit to 14-12. Gaunt then pulled the Bulldogs to within one with her third goal of the game at 2:34 on the clock. With less than a minute to play, Brown found the back of the net with her ninth of the game to tie the game.

The Bulldogs were award a free position shot, 1:14 into the overtime session, and Haley Gaunt did the rest as she beat the Norwich goalie for the game-winner.

Senior Allie Bezio (Wellfleet, Mass.) notched the game's first goal and was followed by Brown's first of the game to give Dean an early 2-0 lead. Norwich responded with three straight to take a lead. Dean answered with goals by Gaunt and Brown in the final 1:04 of the quarter to put the Bulldogs on top 4-3 after 15 minutes.

Norwich began the second frame with a pair of goals before Dean rattled off three to go in front 7-5. The Cadets ended the half with goals by Neris Archambault and Merck to tie the game at the half.

The home team controlled the action in the third to outscore Dean 5-1 and take a 12-8 advantage into the final quarter.