NEWARK, Del.- Caldwell University women's lacrosse freshman Samantha Murphy (Pompton Plains, N.J.) netted the game-winning goal with three minutes to play as the Cougars rallied past Wilmington University 18-17 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
 
The Cougars improve to 2-6 on the season and 2-2 in the CACC, while the Wildcats fall to 4-7 and 2-2 in conference play.
 
Wilmington took a 4-1 lead over the first 10 minutes of the game. Sophomore Arden Kassaleh (Pompton Plains, N.J.) netted the early goal for the Cougars. Caldwell rallied back with three straight goals to tie the score at three. Murphy got the scoring going with a tally at the 15:26 mark. Kassaleh and junior Jessica Collum (Wayne, N.J.) added goals to tie the score at four.
 
The Wildcats added to their lead with three goals to take a 7-4 lead. Murphy added a goal with just under five minutes to play but Wilmington answered with a goal. Caldwell closed out the first half with three goals over the final four minutes. Murphy netted a goal, while junior Rachel Lucia (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) scored a pair down the stretch to tie the score at eight at halftime.
 
Kassaleh scored a pair of goals to start the second half as the Cougars pushed ahead 10-8. The Wildcats battled back with a pair of goals to pull even. Junior Maryellen McCarthy (Levittown, N.Y.) and freshman Jules Wesler (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) each netted goals to put the Cougars back in front 12-10.
 
Wilmington again rallied as they scored two goals to tie the score at 12. Kassaleh added a goal as Caldwell went back front 13-12. The Wildcats scored three goals in a row as they retook the lead at 15-13 with 8:34 left in the game. Lucia kept the Cougars in the game with a goal but Wilmington answered to hold a two-goal advantage.
 
Caldwell battled back as Collum and McCarthy scored to even the score at 16. Lucia won the ensuing draw control and netted a goal to put Caldwell back in the lead at 17-16. Wilmington pulled even at the 4:06 mark with a goal to tie the score at 17.
 
Murphy netted the game-winner of an assist from senior Pamela Schenck (East Moriches, N.Y.) with 3:16 remaining in the game. Wilmington had one final opportunity but junior goalie Nancy Benedetto (Jupiter, Fla.) made a save as time expired to preserve the victory.
 
Kassaleh led the way with five goals and two assists. She added five draw controls. Murphy tallied four goals and one assist along with four draw controls. Schenck posted four assists, while Lucia totaled four goals, three caused turnovers and five draw controls. Collum and McCarthy each finished with two goals and one assist. Benedetto recorded 13 saves in the win.
 
The Cougars host Post University in a CACC contest on Tuesday, April 10 at 4 pm at Essex Valley Field.