Babson Park, Fla. – The Catawba College Women's Lacrosse team fell just short by a score of 10-9 on Monday morning against the Webber International Warriors at Warrior Turf Field, rallying to mount a furious fourth quarter comeback but ultimately being unable to storm all the way back
TEAM STATS
- Catawba outshot Webber International 28-25, putting 27/28 efforts on target. Webber would put just 12/25 shots on goal
- Webber International gave the ball away 27 times, with 13 of those turnovers forced by Catawba. The visiting side would turn over possession just 18 times, nine of them being forced
- Webber goalie Jordyn Davidson piled up 18 saves in a huge effort to take the win. For Catawba, Evie Kaserud made a pair of stops while playing the first three quarters, while Ellie Ferraro would also step into goal for the final 15:00
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
- Joey Baillie and Caroline Cox each scored a pair of goals to pace Catawba offensively, with five other players also tallying goals in the effort
- Ella McCusker and Charlie Skepple each scored and provided an assist, the only two on the day for Catawba
- Helena Cronemiller, Sarah Maier and Rebecca Salber each tied for the game-high with three ground balls
- Mary Sorvillo caused a game-high four turnovers, with Maier and Lauren Swallow each creating two of their own
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
- Webber International opened the scoring at the 10:26 mark through Makayla Senter, with Bryce Gerber assisting the opening goal and then scoring her first of the day with 6:02 to go in the frame to put the hosts up 2-0
- While the Webber International defense and Davidson in goal were able to hold Catawba at bay for the opening 14 minutes of the game, they would not be able to escape the first quarter with a shutout. Cox provided the
breakthrough for Catawba with :51 seconds before the first intermission, forcing Davidson into a turnover and taking full advantage to make it 2-1
SECOND QUARTER
- After a scoreless opening five minutes to the second quarter, Baillie tied the game at 2-2 after being picked out by McCusker with 9:44 on the board
- Catawba's defense had found their footing after going down 0-2, holding the Warriors scoreless for a 15:40 span after Gerber's goal in the first quarter. But the visiting side couldn't fully capitalize for the lead, with Webber International's Kaitlyn Patterson putting her side back on top with 5:22 before the half
- Skepple equalized for Catawba not long afterwards, making it 3-3 at the 2:58 mark, only for Jun Saito to put the Warriors ahead yet again :50 seconds later. Saito's goal would be the final tally of the half as Catawba entered the half seeking the comeback, down 4-3
THIRD QUARTER
- Those upset hopes would be put on hold in the third quarter, however, as Webber International opened the second half on a 4-0 run over the first 10 minutes
- Ayame Macedo made it 5-3 to the Warriors just :48 seconds after play resumed, followed by both Gerber and Senter adding their respective second goals of the game to put the home side 7-3 with 9:35 on the clock
- Patterson added her second tally for the home side at 8:17, putting the Warriors up five before Cox put Catawba on the board in the second half with her second goal of the game at 5:07
- Natalie Baumgarten's goal with 4:26 to go in the quarter completed what would be a 5-1 frame for the Warriors, with the score heading into the final 15:00 showing 9-4 to Webber International
FOURTH QUARTER
- Gerber's third goal of the game with 7:50 to put Catawba in a six-goal deficit, mired in a near 10-minute goal drought
- That would be snapped by Baillie's second goal with 5:45 on the clock, with Skepple providing the assist on a man-up opportunity
- McCusker would take advantage of another man-up situation soon after, making it 6-10 at the 4:25 mark
- As the game entered the final minute, Catawba nearly pulled off the impossible for a stunning comeback; Maier scored with :45 seconds left, followed by Sorvillo forcing a turnover on the ensuing draw, recovering the ground ball, and scoring with :20 seconds left to make it 8-10
- Madi Shaffer came up with a clutch draw control afterwards, allowing Abby Shuren to blast an effort past Davidson to give Catawba life with :08 seconds left, now only down 10-9 after three goals in the final :37 seconds
- However, it wouldn't be enough; Webber International would win the final draw and run the clock out, escaping with the victory
UP NEXT
- Catawba Women's Lacrosse is back in action on Saturday, March 9, returning home to Shuford Stadium as they take on the Mars Hill Lions in a South Atlantic Conference matchup set for 3 p.m.
