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.