Eagles Shake off Slow Start to Fly Away With AAC Championship

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Greg Spell/G-RoxPhotos.com

WALESKA, Ga. – With a final score of 26-5, women's lacrosse claimed the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season championship once again.

Point (Ga.), however, seemed energized from witnessing Senior Day at Ken White Field at University Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Skyhawks hung with the third-ranked Eagles – after falling behind, 6-0 – before Reinhardt finished the first half on an 9-0 run.

The hometown squad (9-1, 8-0 AAC) then completed the contest with a 9-0 second period, which added up to a 18-0 scoring spree over the final 41:31 of the conference finale.

"We got off to a slow start but found our footing and defeated a very athletic Point team," head coach Roy Reynolds said. "Again, we were able to get younger players field time and allow some to play out of position.

"Defender Shelby Genarro scored her first goal of the season on a ripper of a free position shot. I'm proud of the girls going 8-0 and winning regular season conference champs."

The hosts bolted out to a 6-0 lead in just over 10 minutes of play, but Point responded in a big way with three-consecutive goals to cut its deficit to 6-3. Both teams would then score in back-and-forth fashion (8-5), before the Eagles flipped the switch and never looked back.

Caroline Copenhaver was a key contributor all over the field with 6 goals (a team-high), 4 assists (tied with Amaya Garner) and 4 ground balls. Morgan McGhee was next in line offensively with five goals, and the senior also scooped up a pair of ground balls and controlled nine draws.

Brook Villhauer added four tallies, while both Shelby O'Neil and Anna-Marie Gazzo accumulated three apiece.

In total, 10 players found the back of the net, including the aforementioned Shelby Gennaro with 3:48 left in the bout.

The Skyhawks had 30 turnovers, 10 of which were caused.

Details about postseason play, which begins with the AAC Championship, will be revealed when they become available. 

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