CHICAGO, Ill. (May 13, 2023) – Merrill Rollhaus scored twice in the fourth quarter and netted the game-winning goal with just eight seconds left in triple overtime as the Denison University women's lacrosse team earned a 10-9 victory over the No. 17 nationally-ranked University of Chicago during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. With the win, the Big Red will advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the eighth time in school history and for the fifth season in a row.

After Denison took an 8-7 lead on a goal by Rollhaus with 9:12 left in regulation, Chicago answered with two goals over the next 35 seconds to take back the lead until Rollhaus scored again with 4:57 left to tie it and ultimately send the game into overtime.

After Rollhaus tied it, the two teams combined for eight straight turnovers and no shot attempts for the rest of regulation as the defenses tightened up, and the defenses continued to dominate the game in all three overtime periods.

After scoring on its only two shot attempts of the fourth quarter, Denison outshot Chicago 4-1 in the first overtime but saw Rollhaus miss wide with a chance to win it with 32 seconds left.

The Maroons then outshot the Big Red 4-2 in the second overtime and could not convert on four shots in the final two and a half minutes, two of which were saved by Caroline O'Dea.

In the third and final overtime period, O'Dea saved the first shot by Chicago less than a minute in before the Maroons hit the post on a shot with just 1:27 left, but Mary Daniel came up with a caused turnover and groundball to give Denison a chance with one minute remaining.

After a yellow card on the Maroons to give Denison an advantage in the final moments, Emma Repke missed wide with a shot with just 18 seconds left, but Maddie Morrell was there to scoop up the most important groundball of the game and allow Denison to keep possession.

Morrell then turned back toward the goal and found Rollhaus for the game-winner with just eight seconds remaining in the period.

In addition to Rollhaus' three goals, Morrell (1 goal, 2 assists) matched her with three points while Repke (2 goals) and Josie Lucchesi (1 goal, 1 assist) both finished with two points.

Daniel had an outstanding game with six draw controls, six caused turnovers and four groundballs while Bridget Sheehy added five draw controls and Annie Rau recorded six groundballs.

Both goalkeepers finished with more saves than goals allowed as O'Dea made 14 saves and Chicago's Rachel Keefe finished with 12 saves.

Earlier in the game, Denison fell behind 3-0 and trailed 5-3 after the first quarter and 7-5 at halftime.

In the third quarter, however, the Big Red shutout the Maroons and scored on goals by Repke (10:17) and Grayson O'Marra (2:29) to tie the game at 7-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

Denison improves to above .500 for the first time on the season (11-10) and will advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament (Sweet 16) next weekend. On Saturday, May 20, at Kenyon College, Denison will take on the winner between Franklin & Marshall College and Roanoke College.