Lenoir-Rhyne pulls away from Women’s Lacrosse

Hickory, N.C. —- The Catawba College women's lacrosse team cut their deficit to two goals in the second half, but Lenoir-Rhyne responded with seven straight scores to pull away at Moretz Stadium in Hickory in South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse action. The Bears improve to 4-4 overall and 3-0 in the SAC, while the Catawba Indians drop to 1-8 and 0-3 in league play.

Ella McCusker scored a team-high three goals for Catawba, putting all seven of her shots on goal. Mary Sorvillo was Catawba's other multi-goal scorer with two. Sarah Maier had a team-high five draw controls, while Erin Young recorded four ground balls, three draw controls and three caused turnovers. Kaitlyn Cavanaugh led LR with five goals and two assists.

The Bears got on the board first, but Charlie Skepple answered with a goal at the 13:36 mark to tie the game at 1. LR scored the first quarter's final two goals to take a 3-1 lead after 15 minutes. Catawba cut the deficit to 3-2 after Sorvillo scored off a Helena Cronemiller assist, but LR answered with four straight goals to extend their lead. McCusker's goal with less than a minute to go brought Catawba within 7-3 at the halftime break.

Maier and Caroline Cox scored back-to-back goals to start the second half, drawing Catawba within two goals. McCusker answered a Bear score to keep the deficit to 8-6 at the 11:53 mark of the third quarter. LR went on to score seven straight goals across the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 15-6. The teams traded goals the rest of the way, as the Bears extended their unbeaten start to conference play.

Catawba returns to Shuford Stadium on Wednesday, hosting CSU-Pueblo for a 7 p.m. start.