Senior attacker Brittany Butler (Easton, Conn., Joel Barlow) scored on a free position shot with 21 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the 18th ranked University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team to a 15-14 victory over St. Mary's College on Tuesday at the Battleground in the Capital Athletic Conference semifinals. The Eagles improve to 11-4 on the season, and will advance to the Capital Athletic Conference Championship on Friday.

The Seahawks jumped ahead early and led 2-0 before the Eagles reeled off three scores in less than two minutes to lead, 3-2, with 23:32 remaining. Sophomore All-American Catherine Kennedy (Baltimore, Md., Baltimore Lutheran) scored all three goals for the Eagles in the run. After the Seahawks tied the score a little over a minute later, the Eagles surged ahead with five straight goals.

Kennedy scored her fourth goal to kick off the run, and then sophomore All-American Allie Kimmelman (Burke, Va., Robinson) netted two goals and assisted on another to Katie Wallis (Cypress, Texas, Cy-Creek). Freshman Sara Donatich (Melville, N.Y., Walt Whitman) closed the run for UMW with 11:46 to go.

The Seahawks scored three of the next four goals to cut the deficit to 9-6. Wallis and Donatich closed the half with goals to up the Eagle lead to 11-6. The second half saw the Seahawks erase the deficit entirely, as St. Mary's tied the score at 13 with 7:38 left to play. 

Mary Washington scored the go-ahead tally from Lauren Callison (Stevensville, Md., Kent Island) with 3:26 remaining, but the Seahawks tied the score on a goal from Aubrey Mirkin with 46 seconds left. After the Eagles won the ensuing draw control, Butler cut to the crease and drew a foul. The senior deposited the ball into goal with 21 seconds remaining on the free position shot, and after UMW won the final draw control, the Eagles held on for the win.

The Eagles led in shots, 31-22, and had a slim 24-23 edge in ground balls. Mary Washington was led by Kennedy's five goals and Wallis' four scores and assist. Kimmelman had two goals and three assists for the Eagles.

Freshman goalkeeper Leigh Ann Redefer (Lewes, Del., Cape Henlopen) had six saves for the Eagles.

Mary Washington will face either Salisbury University or Stevenson University on Friday in the CAC Championship.