NEWARK, Del. - - The nationally ranked No. 22 NYIT Bears pulled away from the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team in the second half, leading to a 16-9 nonconference victory at the WU Athletics Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats (3-4) had a three-game winning streak snapped but hung tough with the nationally ranked Bears (4-1). The Bears were able to regain possession following scores to keep momentum, controlling more draws, 21-6, than the Wildcats. The more possessions led to a 45-19 shot advantage for the visitors as well.
Back-to-back goals for the Wildcats gave the home team an early lead, 2-1, as Brooke Siebert tied the game and Lashay Ross put the Wildcats in front with 25:07 left in the half. NYIT answered with three straight goals of its own, regaining a 4-2 lead with 18:18 showing on the clock.
Maddie Day got on the board for the Wildcats and Lashay Ross made it back-to-back again, tying the contest at 4-4 with 12:49 left in the first half.
But that would be the final goal for the Wildcats in the first half, as the Bears finished the opening 30 minutes with the final four goals, taking an 8-4 lead into the break.
The run would continue for the Bears into the second half, as they scored the first two goals, and four of the first five overall to take a commanding 12-5 lead with 20:00 minutes left in regulation. The Wildcats were able to score four goals in the final 20 minutes, but NYIT answered every goal with a mark of its own, keeping the margin at seven goals as the teams traded goals the rest of the way.
Lashay Ross led the Wildcats with four goals while Taylor Lambeth scored two goals and added two assists. Brooke Siebert scored twice while Maddie Day rounded out the scoring with one goal. Delaney Steele tallied one assist on the day.
Valerie Bragg and Tori Grubowski led the defense with three ground balls each while Bragg also finished with a team best two caused turnovers.
Grubowksi made 14 stops in net in the opening 44 minutes before Maddie Hurm came on and made six stops in 16 minutes.
The Wildcats will play their final nonconference game with their next contest, as they host Shepherd on Tuesday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex. The opening draw is set for 3:30 p.m.
