Spartanburg, S.C. —- The Catawba College women's lacrosse team scored a season-high 17 goals, but fell 20-17 in a high-scoring affair at Converse University in Thursday night non-conference women's lacrosse action.
TEAM STATS
- Both teams recorded 44 shots with 31 of them on target
- Converse edged Catawba 14-13 on ground balls, but had 14 turnovers to the Catawba Indians' 13
- Catawba was 11-of-14 on clear attempts, while Converse was 13-for-18
- The Catawba Indians held a slim 20-19 advantage on draw controls
- Converse was 7-for-13 on draw controls, while Catawba was 3-for-8
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
- Abby Shuren piled on five goals and three assists, just one goal and one points shy of the program records for a freshman in a game
- Joey Baillie chipped in two goals, three assists, three ground balls and seven draw controls
- Ella McCusker also had a hat trick with three goals, while adding two caused turnovers
- Helena Cronemiller and Caroline Cox were Catawba's other multi-goal scorers with two apiece
- Madison Shaffer tied a team-high with two CTs
- Evie Kauserud recorded 11 saves in goal
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
- Catawba answered an early Converse goal with three of their own from Shuren, McCusker and Cox
- Cronemiller added a score late, as the Catawba Indians led 4-2 after the first quarter
SECOND QUARTER
- Catawba led by as much as 5-2 after Judy Rose's first-career goal at the 14:07 mark
- The Valkyries responded with five unanswered goals over four minutes to take a 6-5 lead
- McCusker's score tied the game at 6
- Converse added five more goals the rest of the half, surrounding another Shuren score to ride a nine-goal second quarter to an 11-7 halftime advantage
THIRD QUARTER
- Baillie found Cox to get within three at the 9-minute mark of the third quarter
- Converse' Izzy Eby scored back-to-back goals to lead 13-8
- Catawba and Converse traded goals the rest of the period with the hosts leading 15-10 with 15 minutes to play
FOURTH QUARTER
- Baillie's free-position to start the quarter was answered with three consecutive Converse scores, as they led 18-11
- A four-score Catawba run cut the deficit to three goals with just under six minutes to go
- Converse added an insurance score, while keeping the Catawba offense scoreless for over five minutes; the Catawba Indians struck with 47 seconds left, but was not able to muster up any more goals the rest of the way
UP NEXT
- Catawba returns to Shuford Stadium next Thursday, hosting Lees-McRae in their final tune-up before conference play begins; first draw is set for 7 p.m.
