Hannah Merrick (South Lyon, Mich./East) scored with just 27 seconds left in the contest to help the Lourdes women's lacrosse team pick up a big 12-11 victory on the road at Madonna on Saturday afternoon.
 
"I am really proud of the intensity this team kept throughout the game," stated head coach Alyssa Shaver following the victory. "We didn't let things we couldn't control dictate how we played. They stuck together as a team and fought until the end."
 
The Gray Wolves struck first as Bella D'Arcy (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) found Ashley Hunt (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May), who found the back of the net to give Lourdes a 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the contest.
 
D'Arcy added to her point total minutes later, pushing the Lourdes lead to 2-0 with 27:09 left in the first half.
 
After Madonna (2-6, 0-3 WHAC) added a pair of goals to knot the contest at 2-2, Merrick was able to capitalize on the offensive end of the field at the 24:13 mark of the half to push the lead to 3-2. Just 20 seconds later, Hunt added to the lead, scoring her second goal of the afternoon and extending the lead to 4-2.
 
The Crusaders answered with four straight goals to take a 6-4 lead before Tiara Reed (Maumee, Ohio/Anthony Wayne) found Brianna Nantz (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) for a goal to get Lourdes within 6-5. Merrick netted a late goal to tie the contest at 6-6 heading into the intermission.
 
Merrick picked up where she left off in the first half, scoring the opening goal of the second half. Madonna answered with a goal, but Emiliana Taylor (Grainger, Ind./Saint Joseph) and Nantz scored back-to-back goals to give Lourdes a 9-7 lead with 17:28 left in the matchup.
 
Madonna once again got one back on the offensive end, but Merrick and Nantz again tallied two straight goals, putting Lourdes ahead 11-8.
 
The Crusaders scored three straight goals within three minutes late in the game to tie the contest at 11-11 before Merrick sealed her impressive day with a game-winner with just 27 seconds left in the game, lifting Lourdes to victory.
 
Jacque Pappadakes (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) earned the victory in the cage, posting 11 saves.
 
Merrick led Lourdes offensively with five goals, while Nantz added a hat trick with three scores. Reed led Lourdes with five draw controls while Claire Austin (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) picked up a team-best four ground balls.
 
The Gray Wolves return home next Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they host Aquinas at Wildcat Stadium.