LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The Wilmington University women's lacrosse team jumped out to a fast 3-0 lead but Georgian Court battled back to steal a 9-6 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division contest on Thursday afternoon.
The Wildcats (3-4, 2-1 CACC) carried a 5-4 advantage into the halftime break, holding the lead as late as 18:00 minutes remaining in the contest. Georgian Court (7-2, 5-0 CACC) scored the final four goals of the contest, taking the lead for good with 15:46 showing on the clock.
Three different scorers gave the Wildcats a fast 3-0 lead, as Brittany Rhodes, Katie Spence, and Ashley Kroll opened the game with goals in the first six minutes. After the lions got on the board, Kroll tallied her second goal of the early going to give the Wildcats a three goal advantage once again, 4-1, with 11:59 to play in the first half.
The Lions rallied late in the first half, scoring three straight to tie the game at 4-4 with 3:36 remaining in the half. Rebekah McCurry got on the board in the final two minutes, putting the Wildcats back in front, 5-4, with a goal with 1:50 to play.
After the halftime break the Lions tied the match once again at 5-5 with a goal 7:19 into the second frame. Less than three minutes later, Kroll secured her hat trick with her third goal of the game, giving the visitors a 6-5 lead with 19:52 to play in regulation.
That is when Georgian Court mounted its comeback, however as Emily Gialanella tied the game for the third time with a goal at the 17:50 mark before Melissa Williams tallied the game winner with 15:46 to play. The Lions tacked on two more down the closing stretch of regulation, scoring the final four goals of the contest.
Kroll led the Wildcats with three goals, a ground ball, and a draw control. McCurry, Spence, and Rhodes added the three other goals while McCurry, Spence, and Megan Keffer recorded assists in the loss.
Senior goalkeeper Corinne Dries made 11 stops in net for the Wildcats while Stephanie Lehner denied eight shots in goal for the Lions.
The Wildcats have a chance to get back in the win column with another CACC contest on Saturday, as they return host to face first-year program Caldwell at the WU Athletics Complex. The opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m.