Wingate, N.C.----Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore attack
Cathleen Gaffney (Allentown, Pa.) had one goal and a game-high eight assists, lifting the Bears to a 13-6 South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse tournament semifinal victory over Wingate University Friday afternoon at Graham Gill Field. Junior midfielder
Rachel Elmore (White Plains, Md.) led the Bears with five goals.
Lenoir-Rhyne junior attack
Gabby Sousa (Delran, N.J.) contributed three goals for the visitors. For Wingate, sophomore attack
Kendall Wells (Elkridge, Md.) and senior attack
Madison LaBarbera (Colchester, Conn.) had one goal and one assist each. Freshman midfielder
Nina Cifolilli (Kent Island, Md.) had two assists.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Lenoir-Rhyne 13, Wingate 6
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 9-8 overall, Wingate 6-13 overall
Location: Graham Gill Field at the Irwin Belk Track Complex, Wingate, N.C.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Lenoir-Rhyne outshot Wingate 30-22 with a hefty 25-13 edge in shots on goal.
-Wingate won 12 draw controls, compared to nine for Lenoir-Rhyne.
-Bulldog sophomore defender
Sierra Street (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) had six draw controls, as did Lenoir-Rhyne's Elmore.
-Lenoir-Rhyne senior goalie
Ines Flueck (Coppell, Texas) picked up the win. In 57 minutes, she allowed five goals and recorded six saves.
-Wingate junior
Arion Pierre (Haymarket, Va.) took the loss. In 60 minutes played, Pierre had 12 saves with 13 goals allowed.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Elmore and Wingate junior midfielder
Emily Ketron (Mason, Ohio) traded goals to start the game. Ketron's score (on an assist from Wells) tied the score 1-1 at the 28:32 mark. The LRU Bears put together a 6-2 run to end the half, taking a 7-3 lead at intermission.
Second Half
LaBarbera and freshman midfielder
Ellie Gottschalk (Bel Air, Md.) scored the first two goals of the second half to pull the Bulldogs within two scores at 7-5. The Bears answered with six consecutive goals to put the game out of reach. Elmore had three of the six scores. Wingate junior midfielder
Megan Amrein (Abingdon, Md.) scored the game's last final goal (1:16) to settle the final margin.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA
Wingate concludes the 2018 season with the SAC semifinal appearance. The Bulldogs are tentatively slated to open the 2019 season Saturday, Feb. 16 at Virginia Wise. Lenoir-Rhyne faces Queens University of Charlotte in the SAC women's lacrosse tournament championship game Sunday at 4 p.m. The contest will be held at Wingate's Graham Gill Field.