EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Women's Lacrosse Team (4-13, 1-9 SAC) dropped its final contest of the 2026 campaign to Tusculum University (9-8, 5-5 SAC) Wednesday evening. The Pioneers utilized a 10-goal third quarter to earn the 22-8 victory. 

The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Tusculum 22, Emory & Henry 8
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Food City Sports Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (4-13, 1-9 SAC); Tusculum (9-8, 5-5 SAC)

How It Happened
- Tusculum recorded the first four goals of the afternoon to establish an early 4-0 advantage through the opening 11 minutes. The Wasps got on the board at the 2:41 mark when junior attack Avery McHargue (Weaverville, N.C.) found sophomore midfielder Alex Costello (Johnson City, Tenn.), who beat the goalie on the player-up advantage to cut the deficit to 4-1. Costello struck again 50 seconds later on another player-up chance on a helper from senior midfielder Justyce Jones (Jacksonville, N.C.) to reduce the margin to 4-2. TU would tally the final goal of the frame for a 5-2 lead.
- The Pioneers tallied three unanswered scores to begin the second quarter as they saw their lead balloon to 8-2 with just over seven minutes remaining in the period. Jones put her name on the scoresheet with 6:51 on the clock on an assist from Costello and graduate student attack Mary Martinez (Estado de Mexico, MEXICO) followed just over two minutes later on a helper from McHargue to make it 8-4 heading into the halftime break.
- E&H was first on the scoreboard to start the second half as Jones dished to Martinez who found the back of the net at the 13:19 mark and the Wasps trailed by just three at 8-5. Tusculum would respond with three consecutive goals, but Jones recorded her second goal of the contest at the 9:23 mark on the player-up advantage on an assist from Martinez to make it 11-6. After two more TU goals, Martinez took matters into her own hands as she scored unassisted to cut the gap to 13-7 with 6:30 showing on the clock in the third. Tusculum roared back with five straight goals for the 18-7 lead through three periods.
- TU continued their run with two more goals, but the Wasps broke things up at the 8:21 mark when junior attack Bethany Beecher (Roanoke, Va.) found McHargue who buried a shot to reduce the margin to 20-8. The Pioneers put the finishing touches on the win with the final two goals of the game for the 22-8 victory.

Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Martinez paced the Wasps with three goals, one assist, one ground ball and a pair of draw controls. Jones finished with two goals, two assists, four ground balls, three draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers. Costello added two goals, one assist and four draw controls.
- Junior defender Megan D'Amore (Mooresville, N.C.) led the defense with two ground balls, a team-high six draw controls and a team-high three caused turnovers.
- Freshman goalie Ella James (Roanoke, Va.) made 12 saves in net while fellow freshman Madison Weaver (Forest, Va.) registered five stops in relief.

Tusculum Individual Leaders
- Elisha Stack led the way for the Pioneers with four goals, seven assists, three ground balls and a caused turnover. Laura Nance Pickens and Carmella Nilsson each posted a hat trick of goals, while Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg, Liberty Jones, Kayla Nuccio and Sophia Didzbalis all had a pair of scores.
- Emily White, Emery Dove and Brianna Warren combined for one save in the win. 

--E&H--