RADFORD, Va. – Accomplishing the program's most first-half goals against a Big South opponent since 2012, the Presbyterian College lacrosse team rode an electric offensive wave to a 13-12 victory at Radford on Saturday afternoon.

The senior/sophomore duo of Willow Hammond and Emma Claire Mills combined for eight scores – all in the first 30 minutes – as the Blue Hose logged their first conference win of the year, compiling 36 shots and earning the W despite just one goal in the second half.

This makes back-to-back road trips to Radford where PC has downed the Highlanders, as head coach Eric Clakeley's crew also got the better of them when they last visited in 2023 (14-5).

Ahead by three with the first two quarters complete, junior keeper Kayleigh Aitken was substituted in for rookie Morgan Thompson, and limited Radford to just three goals in the second half next to eight saves.

Presby gets a full week off before their next outing in Big South action, staying on the road where they'll encounter Winthrop. With six matches still left, the Scotsmen have now doubled their win count compared to the 2024 trek.





NOTABLES
 
- Aitken was a huge factor in preventing Saturday's contest from going to overtime, saving three Radford attempts in the final six minutes. She denied a last-second heave from the Highlanders with two seconds on the clock, following Thompson who tallied seven stoppages herself.

- By reaching six goals in both the 1^st and 2^nd periods, Presbyterian posted their first 12-score opening half since the 2022 season-starter (a 16-6 victory at Bailey Memorial over Howard).

- The last time they achieved that feat against a league opponent was 13 years ago, carried by Mills' second-career hat trick and Hammond's five scores (one away from her personal-best).

- Six different players found the back of the net as the entire match hovered around a lead of three goals or fewer. Altogether, there were six ties and five lead changes as PC outlasted their divisional nemesis.

- Now with 114 career goals (third in Presby's all-time history), Hammond secured her 14^th game with at least three connections. Six of those 14 performances have happened this spring, hitting her target in 42 percent of her attempts.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- The first two quarters were high-octane for both sides, with Hammond needing fewer than eight minutes to nail down her hat trick. She and Mills nearly outscored the Highlanders by themselves after one half, as PC stayed in front for the final 32 minutes.

- Senior attacker Brooke Chandler broke a 9-9 tie with 1:55 left until intermission, part of a 4-0 Blue Hose flurry to create some separation. Chandler also added three assists to her stat sheet, tying a career-high which she set at Xavier last season.

- Aitken quieted a Radford attack that was very consistent earlier on, holding the home side to a mere two scores in the last 23 minutes.

- Hammond landed her 30^th goal of the year with 10 ticks left in the 2^nd, allowing PC to have a 12-9 edge and would wind up being the team's second-to-last score of the day.

- Kaylie Rittmueller's woman-up goal with 12 minutes ended up being a very crucial play with the benefit of hindsight, considering Presby would hold on by a single goal.


 
UP NEXT
 
- Rock Hill will be the site of PC's next appearance in seven days, headed for Winthrop on April 5. Coach Clakeley's unit clipped the Eagles when they last visited two years ago, withstanding a late run to win 11-10.

- Each of the last three encounters between the Blue Hose and Winthrop has been decided by two goals or less. Next weekend's Big South feature will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.