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March 12, 2003 | Stats

Nadia Harmsen scored with three seconds remaining as AU defeated UMBC in overtime.

BALTIMORE, Md. — Gina Riitano found Nadia Harmsen with just three seconds remaining in the second overtime as American University's women's lacrosse team (3-2, 1-0) defeated Maryland-Baltimore County (0-4), 15-14. Riitano had four goals and an assist while Nicole McCarthy had three goals and three assists on the evening.

AU tied a school record with 10 assists in the game. In addition to McCarthy's three assists, Katy Zaweski had three as well in addition to her two goals.

UMBC got two quick goals by Kelly Fiorani to open a 2-0 advantage. Riitano got the Eagles on the board with a goal just over seven minutes into the game. After another Retriever goal, Zaweski found Harmsen after a foul to make the score 3-2.

A minute and a half later, Zaweski tied the game at three off a feed from McCarthy. Zaweski netted her second goal of the game with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half to give AU its first lead of the game. However, Stephanie Allen tied the game back up at four just 14 seconds after Zaweski's goal.

McCarthy put the Eagles back on top with an unassisted goal. Zaweski earned her second assist of the day by finding Rebecca Copeland cutting across the middle for a goal. Tara Michael helped AU to a 7-4 lead off a free position shot before UMBC stormed back with four straight goals to take the lead at 8-7. Riitano knotted the game at eight with a free position goal with just over two minutes remaining in the half.

Harmsen found Copeland just over four minutes into the second half to put the Eagles back in the lead. Moriah Linnell made a great pass to a cutting McCarthy to put AU up 10-8. Lauren Hess brought the Retrievers back within one just 19 seconds later. Jen Dragoni scored on a free position shot to tie the game yet again at 10.

Dragoni put UMBC back in front with a goal just over 10 minutes into the second half. McCarthy's second goal of the half off a feed from Copeland tied the game yet again. Hess' third goal of the game put the Retrievers up, 12-11, just over halfway into the second half.

After neither team could score for nearly 11 minutes, McCarthy fed Riitano for her second goal of the game to tie the game for the seventh time. Annie Davis netted a goal for UMBC with 1:48 remaining to put the Retrievers up, 13-12. Linnell scored her first career goal 46 seconds later to tie the game at 13 as Zaweski had her third assist of the game. An AU foul gave UMBC one last shot, but it went high as the teams headed to overtime.

The Retrievers struck first in overtime with Jen Dragoni scoring off a pass from Jennifer Kasper with 39 seconds remaining in the first overtime. Riitano and McCarthy hooked up for the second time in the game as Riitano tied the game in the second overtime with 1:50 remaining. Riitano snagged a ground ball and then fed Harmsen for the game-winning goal with only three seconds remaining in the second overtime.

Kathleen Finnegan made nine saves in goal for AU, facing 38 shots.

The Eagles return to Patriot League play against Bucknell on Saturday at 1 p.m. on Reeves Field.