In the final two attempts to break its winless record in Northeast Conference play, the Central Connecticut lacrosse team was unable to break into the win column. Finishing the season with the same 2-14 overall record as the year prior, the Blue Devils will once again miss the conference tournament.

Saturday’s matchup with Saint Francis (PA), who was likewise without a win in conference play heading into the game, proved to be the more contentious of the week’s two games.

The two teams went tit-for-tat to start the game, with the score tied at three with just over 16 minutes left in the first half. The Red Flash would go on a tear after this, however, finishing the half on a 6-1 run.

Free position shots proved to be the fatal flaw for the Blue Devils, who saw four of the six goals come by way of penalty shots. Central drew four free position shot attempts of their own but was unable to capitalize on any of them. Morgan Sinton would finish off the ugly half for CCSU with a momentum-shifting goal to halt the scoring in the first, with the Blue Devils trailing 9-4 heading into the break.

This year’s Blue Devil team has been Jekyll and Hyde through their halves and their second half against the Red Flash proved to be no different. While Central has been outscored 64-22 in first halves this season, they’ve kept things much closer throughout the final periods, getting outdone by only five (29-24). Central looked like a different team in their second half against Saint Francis. Sinton spearheaded the second half wake-up call, scoring three second-half goals on to give her five on the day.

CCSU’s leading scorer, Carson Adelberger, would score an unassisted goal with 10 minutes to play that would cut the Red Flash lead to four. A goal in the final five minutes from Saint Francis U would be the final nail in the coffin for the Blue Devils, who dropped the match 13-9.

Central’s final match of the season proved to be a less inspired performance against the third-seeded Robert Morris. Opposite as to their usual, Central kept things closer in the first half of play, finishing the first 30 minutes of play down 7-5. The second half saw a break down in the team’s offense, who went without a goal for the entire period, the first time the offense has done so all season. Goalie Jackie Branthover and the defense could not catch much of a break throughout the game, as the Colonials put up 48 shots to Central’s 18.

As the season comes to a close, the record of the Blue Devils does not reflect the bright spots the team put together. Though the final result may have been disappointing, there are still things to look ahead to for next season.

Sinton, who led the team in total points for the second year in a row (32) will be taking over the leadership reigns as a senior next season. Under her, the freshmen core that was added on has shown great potential in their first season, most especially Jessica Denike, who led freshmen with six goals on the year.