CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The fourth-ranked Gettysburg College women's lacrosse team displayed grit and determination on Saturday at Washington College, rallying from a halftime deficit to out-score the 25th-ranked Shorewomen 9-3 in the second half and finish with a 12-8 victory in the final regular season game for both teams.
 
With the victory, Gettysburg (14-2, 8-1 CC) clinched the No. 2 seed for the Centennial Conference Championship next week. Washington (13-4, 7-2 CC) secured the third seed and will draw a rematch with the Bullets in next Saturday's semifinal. Franklin & Marshall College (15-3, 9-0 CC) grabbed the top seed and hosting rights, while Haverford College (12-4, 6-3 CC) and Dickinson College (8-8, 5-4 CC) round out the remainder of the playoff field.
 
Gettysburg took the lead on a goal by senior Maggie McClain (Wexford, Pa./Sewickley Academy) just over six minutes into the game, but Washington came right back with three scores following Bullet turnovers. Back-to-back goals by senior Katie Landry (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) and junior Steph Colson (Westminster, Md./Manchester Valley) tied the game 3-3 with 9:50 left in the first half.
 
The Bullets committed five turnovers over the remaining minutes of the first half, while goals by Madison Acra and Kristy Grovom vaulted the Shorewomen to a 5-3 lead.
 
After producing twice as many turnovers (12) as shots (6) in the opening period, Gettysburg cleaned up its act in the final frame, committing just two turnovers and converting 9-of-15 scoring opportunities. The Bullets rattled off the first three goals of the period with sophomore Liza Barr (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) making it 6-5 with 21:15 remaining in the game.
 
Washington tied the game three times over the next seven minutes, including on a goal by Acra which made it 8-8 with 14:48 to play.
 
The Bullets broke the deadlock with a game-ending four-goal run. Freshman Kerry McKeever (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) scored on a free-position goal and McClain added an advantage goal just over a minute later. Colson and sophomore Courtney Patterson (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) closed the scoring for the visitors.
 
After posting a career high eight points against McDaniel College on Wednesday, Colson lit the scoreboard for four goals and an assist Saturday. She also posted eight draw controls, five ground balls, and one caused turnover. Colson raised her draw control total on the season to 79, which ranks fourth in program history.
 
McKeever and McClain each posted two goals with the first-year also dishing out an assist. Landry finished with a goal and two assists and she moved into sole possession of third place on Gettysburg's career list with 125 assists.
 
Gettysburg's defense did not allow a shot on goal over the final nine minutes of play. Junior Brooke Holecheck (Reisterstown, Md./Notre Dame Prep) posted four ground balls and two caused turnovers, while sophomore Claire Macatee (Street, Md./North Harford) scooped up a pair of ground balls. Junior goalie Bailey Pilder (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) tallied eight saves.
 
Both teams finished with 21 shots. Washington held a slight edge in ground balls at 16-15, while Gettysburg led in draw controls 14-8.
 
More information regarding the 2018 CC Championship will be released on Monday.