CLINTON, S.C.
- The Presbyterian
College women's lacrosse team dropped a 14-11 decision Wednesday afternoon
to Belmont Abbey.
The Blue Hose fell to 2-11 on the year while the Crusaders improved to 7-8.
Jordan Newberry and Jenna Handshoe each accounted for three goals in the
contest. Brittni Dulaney had three points on a goal and two assists. Kirstin
Stenoien, Shannon Hartford, Lauren Lefeber and Laura Meade all added a goal.
Defensivelly, Erin McBurnette stopped a career-high 22 shots. She also forced a
team-best three turnovers. Jill Parker and Megan Woodis had three caused
turnovers while rookie Mary Honan forced the Crusaders into two mistakes.
Rachel Sweeney won four draw controls while Newberry and Dulaney won three
each.
After not scoring a point for the first time in her career, Handshoe opened the
match with a free position goal for a 1-0 lead. Just over nine minutes in, Dulaney
hit Newberry for a goal at the 20:48 mark.
After a score by Tara Chmil, LLefeber pushed the score to 3-1 on a free
position shot with 11:56 to go in the opening stanza. A goal by the Crusaders
pulled the team within one, but PC fired back with another free shot, this time
coming from the stick of Dulaney.
Back-to-back goals by Belmont Abbey evened the contest for a few seconds. After
the tie, Newberry would ensure PC would take the lead heading into
intermission, scoring on back-to-back possessions for a 6-4 lead. The Crusaders
answered back with a goal just prior to halftime, making the score 6-5 in favor
of the home team.
The visitors opened the second half with a score, tying the contest at six
apiece. Head coach Kristina Llanes' team then posted three straight scores to
take a powerful 9-6 advantage. The goals were scored by Handhshoe, Meade and
Stenoien, with the last coming at the 24:22 mark.
Belmont Abbey answered with back-to-back goals before Hartford broke free off a
nice move to record a goal at the 20:06 mark.
Up by one with just under 18 minutes to go, Handshoe netted her third tally of
the day to extend the margin to two, 11-9. However, it marked the last goal of
the day by the home team.
With 12:35 to play, Brianna Dignan tied the contest at 11-all. Two minutes
later, the Crusaders scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
PC would not quit, firing shot after shot at the goal. Hoewver, Natalie
Crenshaw was up to the task in the final minutes, turning away six shots to
maintain the win.
For the game, PC won 14 draw controls compared to 13 for the visitors. Belmont
Abbey accounted for 40 shots to 23 by the home team.
The Blue Hose return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. against Liberty at Old Bailey
Stadium.
