VWC Heads to Top-Ranked Washington and Lee on Wednesday
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- Everything came
together impressively on both sides of the field for Virginia
Wesleyan College's women's lacrosse team in the second half of
Saturday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference quarterfinal tournament
contest against Guilford College's Quakers.
The result was an 8-1 half posted by the host Marlins en route to
an 18-7 victory on Foster Field at the Trinder Center. The
victory moves Virginia Wesleyan (10-7) to the ODAC semifinals for
the eight time in the past 10 years. The Marlins will compete
again on Wednesday, May 4, at Washington & Lee University at a
time to be determined.
Shortly after Guilford (6-11) scored three consecutive goals to
pull within a 7-6 score, VWC head coach Fran Pochily called for a
timeout to talk things over with her troops. The Marlins
returned to the field with a rejuvenated purpose and not only
dominated the final seven minutes of the first half, but also the
first 18 minutes of the second half.
Virginia Wesleyan went on a 10-0 scoring run in that span, as five
different Marlins fired in goals, led byCourtney Williams
(Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) and Tara Harding
(Waterford, N.Y./Shenendehowa) with three each
and Natalie Belva (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) with
two. Courtney Shelton (Prince Frederick,
Md./Huntingtown) started the scoring surge with a goal off an
assist from Belva, and Nikki Salyers (Severna Park,
Md./Severna Park) ended it with a goal, on another Belva
assist.
Summer Frazier (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood) scored off an assist from
E'Leyna Garcia (Plantation, Fla./Pine Crest) for Guilford to stop
the Marlins' run with 7:35 remaining in the game. Rachel
Gratton (Startham, N.H./Exeter) capped all scoring with an
unassisted shot at 5:32.
Belva and Harding led VWC with four goals each, Williams added
three, and Lauren Davis (Middleburg, Va./Mercersburg Academy,
Pa.)and Salyers tallied two each. Frazier led Guilford with
three goals.
VWC outshot Guilford 40-21, post a 33-21 advantage in ground balls,
and won 18-of-27 draw control showdowns. Belva led VWC with six
draw control wins and seven ground balls.
Brittany MacKnew (Abingdon, Md./Bel Air) aided the VWC effort
with 10 saves in almost 50 minutes. Michelle Mace (Dumfries,
Va./Woodbridge Forest Park)protected the goal for the final 10
minutes and had one save. Liz Mettler (Cleveland Heights,
Ohio/Beaumont) posted 10 saves for Guilford.
This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan
College sports information department.