DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Presbyterian College women's lacrosse
team took on High Point in the first round of the National Lacrosse Conference
Tournament this afternoon in Davidson, N.C., and fell to the Panthers, 15-3.
Seventh-seeded PC (4-13) will face the Detroit Mercy tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. in a consolation match. High Point (13-3) moves on to the second round.
Brianne Ward (Cincinnati, Ohio), Laura Meade (Acworth, Ga.)
and Kelsey Rupsch (Libertyville, Ill.) each scored for the Blue Hose.
Ward also led the team in draw controls, with three. Goalkeeper
Susan England (Bethesda, Md.) and Rachel Sweeney (Waxhaw, N.C.) collected a
team-high three ground balls and Melinda Vasconcellos (Waxhaw, N.C.) caused two
turnovers.
England made 13 stops in the game in net for the Blue Hose.
Chelsea Thompson led High Point with four goals and five points. Grace Gaeng also had five points on three goals and two assists as well.
High Point struck quickly, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the game's
first minute and building a 5-0 advantage before Ward cut in front of the net
and scored top-shelf to put the Blue Hose on the board less than 10 minutes in,
5-1.
England made several of her eight first-half saves to keep
the deficit at four. England received some help on offense with 11 minutes left
in the first half as Meade took a bouncing shot that went over the leg of goalkeeper
Lauren Hayes to pull PC within three, 5-2.
Katie Prisco (West Babylon, N.Y.) nearly converted her first
goal of the game on a free-position pass from Ward but the chance found Hayes'
stick on a save.
The Panthers scored three more times before the first half
ended, including a goal with 7.6 seconds remaining to take an 8-2 lead into the
halftime break.
The Blue Hose created several scoring chances in the second
half and broke through with 1:41 left before the final whistle. Rupsch drove home a shot from in close to give PC its first goal of the half.
Unfortunately for the Blue Hose, High Point put up seven in
the half to seal the win, 15-3.
PC's game against Detroit on Saturday will give the team a chance to avenge a narrow 15-14 loss to the Titans in Detroit on April 10.
