ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Capital University women's lacrosse team met Mount Union in the OAC Championship on Saturday afternoon, looking to become the first second-seed to win the title. The game was close early on but strong second and third quarters swung it in favor of the Comets. From there on out, the Purple and White put forth a persistent effort to stay ahead which ultimately paid off in the form of a 20-17 championship win. Capital hoists the trophy for a second time, going back-to-back, and secures the second NCAA Tournament bid in program history. It is also Cap's second ever win over Mount Union and first in postseason play. 

The Comets move to 10-4 overall, now with a 8-1 record against OAC opponents. This is the 10th straight 10-win season for coach Stacey Florence and Capital, having achieved the feat in every year of the program's young history. 

Mount Union drops to 13-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was a close one that ended in a 5-5 tie. Mount Union opened up the scoring with two straight, but Capital responded quickly, tying it up with two of their own. Grace Osborn was the one to get Cap on the board first, followed by Andi Henry; both unassisted. The Comets grabbed their first lead minutes later with another two straight following a lone goal from the other side. It was Osborn netting another unassisted with Luci Kanowsky scoring shortly thereafter on a feed from Julia Foresi. The quarter would end even following two from Mount and one from Foresi for Capital. 

In the second quarter Cap started to put a run together and pull away. Osborn opened the quarter with an unassisted goal, followed by a response from the Purple Raiders. The Comets would come back with three straight via Henry (unassisted), Kanowsky (Osborn), and Osborn (Skyla Caito). After a short interruption from the other side, Osborn added another two from Foresi to put Capital up four. She would add yet another to end the half following from two more scores from the other side, giving the Comets a 12-9 advantage.

The Purple and White went on to expand their lead in the third quarter, enlarging it to a high of five multiple times. Osborn got the quarter going with another unassisted score sandwiched between two Purple Raider goals. Capital then went on another run of three straight by Osborn (Henry), Caito (unassisted), and Osborn again (Foresi). The side would alternate to add two more each, Cap's coming from Kanowsky (Osborn) and Osborn (unassisted). At the end of the third, the Comets still controlled a five goal lead, 18-13. 

The insurance the Comets had built up came into play as things got a little closer in the fourth quarter. Capital began to struggle with fatigue and cramping from the heat, but they fought through it to claim the championship despite being outscored in the final fifteen minutes. Osborn boasted both goals in the frame for Cap, first from Foresi and then from Kanowsky. As the final buzzer sounded, the Purple and White would rush the field in celebration of a 20-17 OAC Championship win. 

THE NUMBERS
Capital put up unprecedented draw control numbers, winning a program record 28, only expanding their hold on the national lead for draw controls per game. 

Grace Osborn had an unbelievable game. She not only tied her own OAC single-game goals record with 13, but also set the Capital single-game points record with 15. Additionally she secured a game-high 12 draw controls and played a key role on the clear. Osborn also crossed the 225 career goals mark (228) and inches ever closer to 300 career points (285).

Julia Foresi put up the second-most points with six off of five assists and one goal. Additionally, she secured nine draw controls and picked up one ground ball. Foresi finds herself over 75 points on the season (78).

Luci Kanowsky scored the second-most goals for the Comets, coming away with a hat trick. She also had one assist for a total of four points as well as one caused turnover. Kanowsky is now just three goals away from becoming the first Capital player to score 250 career goals. 

Andi Henry had three points from two goals and one assist, also recording four draw controls, three caused turnovers, and two ground balls. She now sits with over 50 points on the season (51).

Skyla Caito was Cap's final scorer, putting up two points on one goal and one assist. 

Brenna Todd came up with two draw controls and two caused turnovers.

Rylee Jarvis, Holly Stoner, Abbey Midnight, Haleigh McPhillips, and Ava Vendetti make up the remaining ground balls, one apiece. Vendetti also had one caused turnover. 

Emily Serafinchon spent the full 60 minutes in the cage, coming away with eight saves and two ground balls. The winning decision is her third on the year (3-1). 

UP NEXT
The Comets secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will find out where they're going and who they're playing on Monday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m via the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Selection Show. First round games are set to take place on Saturday, May 13.