ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Members of the Roberts Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team shared a similar message following Saturday afternoon's 10-5 victory over D'Youville in their regular-season finale.
"We did it all for Tuck," fifth-year co-captain Alexis Grant said. "She's our one true senior."
"Every day we play for each other and, especially today, we played for Tuck," junior midfielder Sophia Podszebka said.
"Tuck" is senior defender Caitlin Tucker, who suffered an injury in the preseason and was unable to take the field in a game this spring. She was honored in a pregame ceremony with her parents Tara and Ward.
"It was very emotional," Tucker said. "That's not how I expected my senior year to go, but there is always a reason for everything. I stepped back into a sideline role and am grateful to have had the support of my teammates and coaches throughout my career at Roberts."
The Redhawks won their sixth straight game and finished the season in a three-way tie at the top of the East Coast Conference with Mercy and Molloy. Roberts (11-5, 5-1 ECC) earned the second seed in the ECC Championship tournament and will host Molloy in a semifinal game at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The Redhawks defeated Molloy 13-12 in triple overtime on April 22.
"A lot of good came out of this game," Redhawks coach Kristin Paolini said. "When 0:00 hit, it's good to think about those things – tying for the conference championship and earning the chance to host a postseason game.
"I think that this game will really allow us to mentally prepare for the postseason because we know that every team we see from now on is going to bring its 'A' game."
Grant led Roberts with five goals and an assist. Sophomore Annie Mulhall added two goals to finish the regular season with an ECC-leading 55 goals and Podszebka added two goals and six draw controls. Freshman Ella Dossier finished with a goal and two assists and graduate student Tori Lammes added two assists. Dossier finished the season tied for the ECC lead with 37 assists.
Roberts jumped to a quick 4-0 lead just 3:20 into the game, but D'Youville settled down and the Redhawks were unable to extend their lead until freshman Dossier scored on a beautiful over-the-shoulder shot with 9.8 seconds remaining.
Although Roberts was unable to pull away, the Redhawks were able to deliver big plays at key times. Grant scored with 9.8 seconds remaining in the first quarter to give the Redhawks a 5-2 lead and set the tone with a goal early in the fourth quarter that gave Roberts a 9-5 advantage.
"I hate losing," said Grant, who finished the season with a career-high 44 goals. "Sometimes I hold back to create space for other people and today I felt like I needed to step up and do my part to get the ball in the net."
"Sometimes you just need that one player to show their teammates that they can shake off whatever is going wrong and that things are going to be all right," Paolini said. "Lexi is the type of player that lifts her teammates up on her shoulders and has that bulldog mentality."
Junior Madelyn Robinson, who has been named ECC Defensive Player of the Week the past two weeks, led the defense with six caused turnovers and freshman midfielder Kadie Tierney contributed three ground balls and an assist.
Sophomore Shawna Lesmerises and graduate student Natalie Arieno split time in goal for Roberts.
Grant, Lammes, Arieno, and defender Shay DeRoo were all recognized as fifth-year players prior to the game. Grant, Arieno and DeRoo all played on the 2021 Roberts team that reached the NCAA Division II Final Four and are familiar with the intensity that playoff lacrosse brings.
"We're all out there for each other," DeRoo said. "We all know that post season is a whole different ballgame."