NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's lacrosse team was able to fend off West Virginia Wesleyan in a back-and-forth second half, winning the nonconference contest, 16-15, on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (4-5) scored back-to-back goals to end the first half, taking a 7-5 lead into the halftime break. The Bobcats (4-3-1) would eventually tie the game at 10 and again at 13, but the Wildcats scored back-to-back goals and then the clincher with 2:39 left to go up by two goals.
Lashay Ross dominated the offensive zone on Saturday, scoring seven goals while adding one assist. She also tied her own single game record with 13 draw controls, none bigger than the final one of the day after West Virginia Wesleyan scored with 1:26 to play to draw to within 16-15.
La'Dae Boykin finished with five goals and an assist, edging closer to 200 career points. She now has 199 career points, looking to become just the third Wildcat in program history with 200 career points.
Trailing 3-2 midway through the first half, the Wildcats scored three straight goals, with two coming from Boykin, to take a 5-3 lead. The Bobcats tied the game, 5-5, before Ross and Mariah Spencer scored to take a 7-5 lead into the halftime break.
Taylor Lambeth scored the first goal of the second half to give the Wildcats its largest lead of the game, 8-5. But the Bobcats scored three of the next four, and five of the next seven goals to tie the game at 10-10 with 17:32 showing on the scoreboard.
Boykin and Sam Foster scored to regain a 12-10 lead for the Wildcats, but the Bobcats answered the call once again with three of the next four goals to tie the match at 13-13 with 13:33 left to play. Ross scored back-to-back goals for the Wildcats but West Virginia Wesleyan scored with 3:16 to get to within one, 15-14.
The Bobcats won the ensuing draw and earned a free position attempt, but the shot went off the crossbar and stayed out. Mikailla Spencer then sped down the field for the clear and went right to goal, scoring with 2:39 to play to regain a two-goal lead once more. The visitors would score with 1:26, but Ross' draw control all but ended the contest as the Wildcats were able to take a big chunk of time off the clock in the offensive zone.
Maddie Hurm made 17 saves for the Wildcats as the Bobcats outshot the Wildcats, 46-34. 12 of her saves came in the first half. The Wildcats lost the draw control battle, 17-16, in the game, but won the second half, 11-9, to hold off the Bobcats.
The Wildcats return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action with their next game, as they host Jefferson on Wednesday at the WU Athletics Complex. Opening draw is set for 4:00 p.m.
