BREVARD, N.C. – Emily Denaga, Paige Kneubuhler, and Parker Moore each scored three goals apiece as the Brevard College women's lacrosse team (6-2) won a non-conference thriller, 12-10, over Ferrum College (4-4) on Wednesday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
The victory improves BC's record to 6-2 through eight contests so far in the 2023 campaign, surpassing eight-game starts in the 2016 and 2019 seasons for the best eight-game beginning to a season in program history.
Denaga paced the Tornado offense with three goals, one assist, and eight won draw controls, while back-to-back USA South Conference Rookie of the Week Kneubuhler made an early case for this week's honor, scoring three times with an assist, five won draw controls, five ground balls, and three caused turnovers. Moore added three goals and aided the defense with four caused turnovers in the matchup, while senior Savannah Colliver tacked on a pair of points with a goal and an assist. Freshman Xan Hill and senior Autumn Kraemer each scored goals, while sophomore goalkeeper Lex MacLauchlin (6-2) made seven saves for Brevard to anchor the defensive effort.
The visiting Panthers were led by Willow Cooper who totaled a game-best six points on five goals and an assist, while Reagan Aldridge controlled the offensive effort with four assists. Bianca Cellitto added three goals for Ferrum.
Kneubuhler opened the scoring with an unassisted goal within the first two minutes of play, while Denaga followed with consecutive scores and Kraemer found the back of the net as the Tornados started hot with a 4-0 lead through the game's first seven minutes of play. Ferrum answered with a goal of its own as both sides traded a pair of scores to make it 6-2 after the first quarter of play.
Ferrum found its groove in the second period, outscoring Brevard 5-2 to make it a one-goal affair at the halftime break, 8-7. BC was kept in the lead thanks to goals from its freshman duo of Hill and Kneubuhler, with the latter's strike giving BC a one-goal cushion back in the last 30 seconds of the first half of play.
Denaga found the back of the net to begin the third quarter for the Tornados, as a low-scoring defensive second half ensued. Cellitto brought the Panthers back within one goal, 9-8, but a goal from Colliver at the 4:20 mark in the third quarter pushed the Brevard lead back up to two, 10-8, as the third quarter drew to a close.
Ferrum capitalized on a man-up scenario midway through the fourth period, as the Panthers refused to go away quietly. Moore scored on a free-position shot at the 5:50 mark to extend the lead back out to a two-goal cushion, 11-9.
The Panthers answered back, controlling possession and forcing a failed clear attempt that led to a breakaway goal for the visitors as Cooper drew Ferrum back within one goal, 11-10, with 2:57 left to play. Following a Ferrum timeout, Brevard's Denaga won the ensuing draw control and set up BC's offense for its game-clinching strike, as Kneubuhler dished the ball to Moore who found the back of the cage with 1:43 remaining to push the BC edge back to a two-goal margin, 12-10.
Denaga once again came up big for the Tornados on the next draw, winning possession as Brevard was able to bleed out the rest of the clock to clinch the non-conference victory, 12-10.
Ferrum fell despite holding a slight shooting advantage, 27-20. The Panthers edged the Tornados in the ground ball category, 26-21, but BC converted 16-of-28 clear attempts while Ferrum was successful 10-of-18 times. Brevard's deciding factor was its draw control margin (15-11), while the Tornados were also 5-for-11 on free-position shot attempts compared to Ferrum's 1-for-6 mark.
The Tornados return to action on Saturday at 12 p.m. as Brevard jumps back into USA South Conference action, facing Greensboro College. The contest will serve as Brevard's "Morgan's Message" contest.
Morgan's Message® strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. They aim to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.
To learn more about Morgan's Message, please visit https://www.morgansmessage.org/
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, and 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from Brevard College events.
-BC-