Millersville scored six consecutive goals in the first half to take an early lead over of the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team on its way to a non-conference win, 14-6, on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (3-8) scored back-to-back goals late in the first half to cut the deficit down to four but the Marauders (4-6) scored with only four seconds left in the half to gain the momentum heading into the halftime break, 8-3. The Marauders would pull away in the second half and secure the win by scoring the first five goals of the second stanza as well.
The Marauders and the Wildcats exchanged goals to begin the contest but it was a goal by Taylor Davis with 20:58 left in regulation that would spark the Marauders to go into a 6-0 spurt that would set the pace for the remainder of the game and have the Wildcats playing from behind.
Rebekah McCurry would stop the run by the Marauders by scoring her 20th goal of the season with 5:12 left in regulation and would couple that with her 21st goal of the season with 4:40 left to help cut the Marauders lead down to four.
Coming out of the half, the Marauders would go on another run, scoring five unanswered goals being led by Hannah Vogel, who tallied three in a row with assists from Sabrina Fusco on the final mark.
The Wildcats would not go quietly however, as they would stop the streak by going on a run of their own with goals by Megan Keffer on an assist from Ashley Kroll at 16:50, La'Dae Boykin at 8:50, and Sara LeBrun with an assist from McCurry at 7:40. The late offensive efforts of the Wildcats were not able to overcome the deficit as they would fall to the Marauders 14-6.
McCurry led the Wildcats with two goals, four ground balls, three draws, and two caused turnovers. Lebrun, Boykin, Keffer, and Gabby Spalt would all score one goal in the loss. LeBrun tied McCurry with four ground balls as well while goalkeeper Corinne Dries led all with six on the afternoon.
The Wildcats earned more draws, 13-9, and had more shots, 36-32, and ground balls, 28-22, than the Marauders throughout the contest. Dries made 10 saves on 32 shots but Marauder net minder Shannon Davis had 14 saves on 36 shots for the Marauders, coming up big when needed most to keep Millersville on the run.
The Wildcats are on the road for their next two contests, going outside of the CACC once again with a game on April 7 at St. Thomas Aquinas. The opening draw is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Press Release written by Wilmington Sports Information Inter Jake Weitzenecker
