CLINTON, S.C. – Despite whittling an early deficit down to a pair of goals in the closing moments of the opening half, the Presbyterian College lacrosse team ended up on the losing end of a 20-7 decision to Stetson in Saturday afternoon's season-starter, victims of a 9-1 Hatter run that bled into the third at Bailey Memorial Stadium.
Preseason All-Big South honoree
Willow Hammond registered two scores in the first clash of her junior campaign, as did
Emma Claire Mills during her inaugural performance as a true freshman.
Mickey Paredes,
Abby Edmisten, and
Kaylie Rittmueller accounted for PC's other three cash-ins throughout the program's fifth all-time meeting with their Floridian foes.
Head coach
Eric Clakeley's unit gathered 23 looks at the net in the setback, with 13 of them guided on-target. On the flip side of the field, the goalkeeping tandem of
Naomi Lauderbaugh and Kaylie Aitken added up for 11 deflections.
Both sides finished the contest with a near-identical free-position output (3-of-6 versus 2-of-6), although the visitors were able to acquire a sizable separation in draw controls at 22-9.
PC will aim to put a better foot forward in their next outing as they prepare for a lengthy road series, traveling to Kennesaw State next Thursday as the eight-match non-conference journey rolls on.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Rittmueller delivered PC's first of many scores this semester at the 13:48 mark of the 1
st, directed to the crease from super-senior Edmisten where she put it past Stetson keeper Sydney Heimann only two-and-a-half minutes into her collegiate career.
- Although facing a 6-2 hole approaching the second period, Presbyterian clapped back on a Hammond-Edmisten one-two punch within five minutes apart that occurred near the midway portion of the 2
nd.
- Mills (one of the 14 newbies on Presbyterian's roster) found the back of the net for the first time as a Blue Hose with only 29 seconds left until the break, however the Hatters answered back in unpredictable fashion by scoring with only two ticks remaining, pushing the lead to four in the process.
- That blink-and-you'll-miss-it play was the start of a 7-0 spurt from Stetson, putting the match out of reach on their way to the 13-point differential.
NEXT UP
- Presby's visit to Georgia against KSU will offer up the second bout of the season for both clubs, with the Owls having to wait until Monday to kick off the slate versus Reinhardt. Kennesaw has battled the Blue Hose on five past occasions, winning the most recent matchup in 2022 (18-8).
- 7:00 PM will be the start time for that bout in the Peach State, set for February 15.
