EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Women's Lacrosse Team (1-4) dropped its non-conference game against Tennessee Wesleyan University (3-2) Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs took an 8-6 lead into the halftime break, and held on for the 12-9 victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Tennessee Wesleyan 12, Emory & Henry 9
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Food City Sports Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-4, 0-1 SAC); Tennessee Wesleyan (3-2, 0-0 AAC)
How It Happened
- TWU opened the scoring just 49 seconds into the contest, but E&H struck back with a pair of goals to take the lead. Graduate student Mary Martinez (Estado de Mexico, MEXICO) tallied the first Wasp score of the game on an assist from junior Avery McHargue (Weaverville, N.C.) to level things at 1-1, then Martinez returned the favor with 10:50 on the clock as she dished to McHargue who beat the goalie to push the Wasps ahead 2-1. Tennessee Wesleyan answered with a free position goal to tie things at 2-2, but Emory & Henry had an answer. Senior Justyce Jones (Jacksonville, N.C.) scored on the player up advantage on an assist from McHargue to make it 3-2 and Martinez tallied her second of the contest with 3:54 to play in the quarter on yet another helper from McHargue to run the score out to 4-2. The Bulldogs responded with the final two goals of the period in the final 3:10 to send the score to 4-4 through the opening frame of action.
- TWU took their second lead of the game with the opening goal of the second quarter, but McHargue scored unassisted with 10:21 showing to level things once more at 5-5. After another Bulldog goal, McHargue found sophomore Alex Costello (Johnson City, Tenn.) who drilled a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at 6-6. TWU recorded the final two goals of the half to take the 8-6 lead into the break.
- The visitors pushed their margin out to its largest of the contest at the 11:31 mark, making it 9-6. Martinez immediately answered the bell just eight seconds later as she netted an unassisted goal. Sophomore Whitney Holland (Rocky Mount, Va.) got on the scoresheet with 7:47 remaining in the frame on an assist from junior Bethany Beecher (Roanoke, Va.) to bring the Wasps back within one at 9-8. TWU registered the final goal of the quarter to take the 10-8 advantage to the final period of play.
- The visiting Bulldogs saw their margin grow to four at 12-8 with back-to-back goals to begin the fourth. McHargue completed her hat trick with 8:51 left to reduce the deficit to three, but neither team could break through over the remainder of the game as the Bulldogs took the win by the 12-9 scoreline.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- McHargue paced the Wasps with three goals, four assists and a caused turnover while Martinez finished with three goals, two assists, five ground balls, one draw control and a pair of caused turnovers.
- Jones had a goal, a team-high seven ground balls, a team-high six draw controls and four caused turnovers. Sophomore Ella Bramer (East Amherst, N.Y.) went for three ground balls and four caused turnovers while junior Megan D'Amore (Mooresville, N.C.) collected four draw controls, one ground ball and forced four turnovers.
- Freshman goalie Madison Weaver (Forest, Va.) made three saves in net and fellow freshman Ella James (Roanoke, Va.) recorded a stop in relief.
Tennessee Wesleyan Individual Leaders
- Olivia Downey led the Bulldogs with five goals, two ground balls and four draw controls. Kate Buchanan added three goals while Elizabeth Pluta tallied a pair of scores.
- Rylee Brendlinger earned the win in goal, making four stops while Alli Duenckel added five saves in relief.
Up Next
- The Wasps hit the road on Wednesday, March 4 when they travel to take on the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University. First draw is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from Hickory, North Carolina.
--E&H--