Upper Montclair, NJ (04/01/03) - Junior midfielder CLARE RUEGSEGGER (Nyack, NY/Nyack) scored her eighth goal of the game with 24 seconds remaining in sudden-death overtime to lift Eastern (PA) University to a 15-14 triumph over Montclair State University in NCAA Division III women's lacrosse action this afternoon at Sprague Field. The loss leaves Montclair State at 3-4 overall, with two straight losses, while the visiting Eagles improve to 5-2.

Senior attacker JODI GANGEMI (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) scored nine of Montclair's 14 goals, while junior CATHY HOMIEK (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) led the Red Hawks with seven assists while adding a goal of her own. Freshman KRISTIN GISONDI (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township) scored two goals and added an assist for MSU, while BRIDGET FITZSIMMONS (Timonium, MD/Dulaney) and ERIN BALINT (East Brunswick, NJ/ East Brunswick) tallied MSU's other goals, with Fitzsimmons setting upon another score. Gangemi also scored twice off of a free position, while Gisondi scored once in such a situation.

The Red Hawks fell behind, 2-0, eight-and-half minutes into the contest and were down, 7-5, at halftime. Montclair then trailed, 12-9, with just under 15 minutes remaining in regulation before getting goals from Fitzsimmons, Balint and Gangemi in a span of 5:40 to pull MSU into a tie. The teams then traded goals down the stretch as Eastern took a 13-12 lead, before Gangemi tied the contest at 13-13 with her eighth goal of the afternoon, with 2:04 remaining in regulation. Gangemi put MSU ahead, 14-13, by scoring her ninth goal 3:35 into the second three-minute overtime period, before Ruegsegger knotted matters just 17 seconds later. Ruegsegger then won it off a solo rush in the third extra session. Eastern outshot MSU, 27-17, on the rainy turf.

Senior RACHEL LENZO (Columbia, MD/Howard HS) scored three goals for the Eagles, while classmate KARI TYBRING (Souderton, PA/North Penn HS) had a goal and an assist. Sophomore LISA SMICKLO (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) had 12 saves in net for Montclair State, while senior ALEXIS PACE (Lansdale, PA/North Penn HS) backstopped Eastern with three saves. Ruegsegger scored Eastern's three final goals of the game, in a span of 16:40, while also scoring once off of a free position.

MSU will now trek to Lycoming (PA) College on Thursday, April 3, at 4:00 p.m.