No. 5 Women's Lacrosse and Top-Ranked SCAD-Savannah (Ga.) Have Epic Clash

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – One of the biggest high-profile matchups of the 2020 season in NAIA women's lacrosse took place on the turf of Ken White Field at University Stadium on Sunday, as top-ranked SCAD-Savannah (Ga.) and No. 5 Reinhardt squared off in a heavyweight Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) battle.

It was the first time the Eagles (3-1, 1-1 AAC) and Bees lined up against each other as AAC foes, and the action was fast and furious, with SCAD-Savannah coming away victorious, 24-17.

"I'm extremely pleased with our effort today," head coach Roy Reynolds said. "We had a lot of great moments today, especially our clears and transition. A few critical errors allowed them to pull ahead with a margin we couldn't overcome, but I'm very proud of my girls."

The top-five clash saw a combined 41 goals and an astounding 80 shots total. Katie Yarish and Caroline Copenhaver helped the hometown team jump ahead, 2-0, in less than four minutes. The breakaway offensive attack of the Bees hit its stride after a timeout, and before you knew it, SCAD-Savannah was in front, 3-2.

Copenhaver would tie the score at 3-3 before the Bees and Eagles went on multiple runs throughout the opening half. Each group would hold advantages only to have the other team fight back. Reinhardt was again up by two scores at 8-6, but SCAD-Savannah would reel off four-consecutive netted shots to move back in front, 10-8 with 5:46 left before halftime.

Reinhardt would get one back less than a minute later, but the Bees would finish the period on a 3-0 run and a head to the break with a 13-9 cushion.

Twelve seconds into the second half, however, the disadvantage for the hosts would climb to five after another SCAD-Savannah score. The Bees would begin to settle into the contest and open up their largest lead of the day at 21-12 with 12:54 remaining in the game.

The Eagles wouldn't go away, either, as Yarish and Copenhaver teamed up to net three goals in-a-row to get back within a half-dozen at 21-15. Reinhardt wouldn't get any closer the rest of the way as both groups alternated scores over the last portion of the contest.

Yarish (seven goals and five assists) was the driving force on offense for her team, as Copenhaver (five scores), Morgan McGhee (three) and Alyssa Klinger (two) found the back of the net for Reinhardt. 

The Eagles won the ground-ball battle at 29-22, with goalie Jessica Landers (10 saves) scooping up six.

Scoring Summary
Goals: Katie Yarish 7; Caroline Copenhaver 5; Morgan McGhee 3; Alyssa Klinger 2
Assists: Yarish 5; Amaya Garner 3; Copenhaver 1; McGhee 1

The squad looks to get back on track on Thursday evening against No. 7 Marian (Ind.) at home at 5 p.m.

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For more information on Reinhardt Women's Lacrosse, please click here.