CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's lacrosse team dropped its home Big South Conference opener on Sunday, falling to Liberty in a 20-10 result.
PC moves to 4-7 on the year and 0-2 in the Big South. The Blue Hose next play at Longwood on Friday at 4 p.m. Liberty improves to 2-10 overall, 1-1 in League play and next hosts High Point on Friday at 4 p.m.
Liberty took an 11-6 lead into halftime and went on an early run in the second frame to take the win.
Five Blue Hose each scored two goals on the day, four of whom tallied an assist for three points. Senior Brianne Ward (Cincinnati, Ohio) controlled two draws to go along with her three points, as did Megan Schaaf (Ellicott City, Md.). Liz Bedell (Londonderry, N.H.) collected a game-high five ground balls.
Bridget Hogan (Charlotte, N.C.) made seven saves in goal but took the loss to move to 2-4. Tay Lyles (Stevensville, Md.) stopped five shots in relief.
Liberty's Sam Struss posted four goals with two assists for six points, a total reached by Kallie Britton with three goals and three assists of her own.
PC held an edge in ground balls, 23-18, and committed only 16 turnovers to Liberty's 21.
Liberty scored the first two goals of the game on plays from Olivia Becker and Kelly Garrett before Schaaf put PC on the board at the 26:14 mark. The Flames responded with two more before Ward converted her first of the day from the free position. Another pair of Liberty goals preceded an Erin Murphy (Huntersville, N.C.) score from a Corrigan assist. The goal cut Liberty's lead 9-6 with 1:43 before the break.
The Flames scored two goals in the half's final minute from Michaela Rich and Struss to lead 11-6 at halftime.
Liberty broke off an 8-0 to start the second half, including two goals from Britton on free position shots.
PC went on a 4-1 run to close the game. Jess Goergen (Marietta, Ga.) snapped the run with her 11th of the year on a Seiloff assist. After a Kelly Belue Liberty goal, Bonnie Corrigan (Yorktown, Va.) scored a pair of back-to-back goals from the free position and an assist from Goergen. Ward capped the game's scoring with her 23rd tally on a Schaaf assist with 3:09 to go.
