Waligora’s late goal lifts Lawrence Tech past Indiana Tech, 11-10

Lawrence Tech edged Indiana Tech 11-10 on Wednesday afternoon in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Morgan Waligora delivering the deciding goal with 42 seconds left. In a game that swung repeatedly after the Blue Devils built an early cushion, Waligora’s sixth goal of the day gave Lawrence Tech the final answer after Indiana Tech had erased a three-goal deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Devils set the tone early. After Lauren Hainlin opened the scoring for Indiana Tech at 14:20 of the first quarter, Bella Louwerse tied it at 1-1 and Waligora took over from there. She scored three times in the opening quarter, including goals at 8:06, 6:39 and 5:18, to help Lawrence Tech move in front 4-1. Indiana Tech got one back before the end of the quarter, but Lawrence Tech continued to press in the second. Alyson Walendzak scored at 12:45, and Waligora added a free-position goal at 7:19 to stretch the lead to 6-2.

Indiana Tech answered before halftime and carried that push into the third quarter. Goals from Lilliana Rivera and Brook Maul cut the margin to 6-4 late in the second, then Walendzak scored early in the third to make it 7-4. Indiana Tech did not fade. Kylie King scored on the man-up, Rivera added a free-position goal, and Hainlin tied the game at 7-7 with 7:14 remaining in the third. Lawrence Tech regained the lead before the quarter ended when Walendzak scored again at 1:10 for an 8-7 edge.

The fourth quarter followed the same pattern. Louwerse pushed the Blue Devils ahead 9-7 at 10:55, and Waligora converted a man-up chance off an assist from Jocelyn Vander zwaag at 9:39 to make it 10-7. Indiana Tech rallied again behind Hainlin and Michelle Farrell, who scored at 4:01 and then tied the game 10-10 with 1:19 left. Lawrence Tech still found the last breakthrough, as Waligora scored with 0:42 remaining to complete the 11-10 win.

Waligora finished with six goals, one assist, eight shots, eight shots on goal and six ground balls in the standout performance for Lawrence Tech. Walendzak added three goals and five ground balls, while Louwerse scored twice. Jocelyn Vander zwaag contributed two assists, both on Waligora goals. Lawrence Tech outshot Indiana Tech 33-20, held a 27-11 advantage in ground balls and forced 22 opponent turnovers. The Blue Devils also got six saves defensively.

Indiana Tech stayed within reach throughout behind Hainlin’s three goals and one assist and Farrell’s two goals and three assists. The Warriors also received goals from Rivera, Pope, Maul and King, and twice fought back to tie the match in the second half. Still, Lawrence Tech answered the final push at Warrior Athl. Field, where an announced crowd of 43 saw Waligora decide it in the closing seconds. Elly Da Costa was listed as the game official.