TACOMA, Washington – Abby Stranahan's highly anticipated return sparked the Puget Sound lacrosse team's 17-16 comeback win against Linfield in Baker Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
After spending four weeks recovering from an injury, Stranahan was held out of Saturday's game until the fourth quarter. Linfied held a 13-10 early in the final quarter, but Stranahan's energy ignited the comeback.
 
Cat Schilli scored on a free-position attempt with 13:40 on the clock, and less than two minutes later she scored again to cut the Loggers' deficit to 13-12. Maya Sheklow assisted on the goal that made it a one-score game.
 
Sheklow connected with Schilli once more to tie the game, 13-13, with 11:36 on the clock. Linfield briefly reclaimed a one-goal lead, but Schilli found Stranahan cutting down the middle of the zone, and Stranahan buried the equalizer.
 
Linfield appeared to poise to come away with a win after it scored consecutive goals, and there was less than 3:00 left in regulation, but Stranahan scored on an assist from Sheklow to make it one-goal game again. Moments later, Sheklow earned a free-position attempt and she beat the goalie to the lower-right corner to tie the game.
 
The Wildcats had a chance to take the lead once more, but their shot hit the post and Puget Sound corralled the loose ball with 45 seconds left in regulation. The Loggers successfully cleared the ball, and they got the ball to Stranahan near the cage.
 
Stranahan then found Schilli open 10 yards out form the goal, and Schilli fired a hard shot for the game-winning goal with six seconds left.
 
Schilli scored a season-high 10 goals, easily surpassing her previous mark of six scores. Sheklow finished with a career-high six assists, and Stranahan scored three times in the final 15 minutes of the game.
 
Puget Sound hosts Pacific Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m.