BOW — The Falcons’ girls’ lacrosse team entered Thursday’s matchup against Division I’s Londonderry at 14-2 on the season. Bow, a D-III program, saw its two losses come to D-II Hollis-Brookline and D-I Portsmouth. Overall, the Falcons were outscoring opponents 270-75; against D-III competition, that margin was 253-47. 

On Thursday, though, Bow got the uphill challenge it hoped for when scheduling its final regular season contest against the Lancers. The Falcons led just 4-2 after the first quarter, 6-5 at halftime and 9-8 at the end of the third before ultimately requiring overtime after regulation ended with the score tied 10-10. With just 14 seconds remaining in the first OT, Bow senior Kendall Murray fired a shot into the back of the cage for the victory.

“It was good. It was a tough game,” head coach Chris Raabe said. “They had to work for what they got. It was good going into playoffs.”

Senior Olivia Selleck led the Falcons with five goals, while freshman Charlotte Duncan added three, junior Ella Gray scored two and Murray fired in the game winner.

The victory improved Bow to 15-2, and although it has two more losses than 14-0 St. Thomas in the D-III standings, it will almost assuredly claim the top seed based on the NHIAA’s scoring system that awards more points for wins against opponents from higher divisions.

The tight game was also beneficial in highlighting for Raabe where the team still needs to improve if it wants to take home a second consecutive D-III state championship.

“Our defensive slides were a little bit late, but I think they were much better in the second half,” Raabe said. “And the attack, just being a little bit more patient waiting for the right pass. When you play teams that we’re better than, you can kind of make the sloppy pass and it connects. With these guys, you had to make the correct pass for it to connect.”

Bow’s playoff journey will begin in the Division III quarterfinals currently scheduled for Thursday May 30.