RU WLAX Brings Home 1st NAIA National Title!

Savannah, Ga. - [Schedule] [Bracket] The Reinhardt University (Ga.) Eagles captured the 2024 NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship Red Banner in stellar action on Saturday, May 4 in Savannah, Georgia at Memorial Stadium in Chatham County. With a high-scoring half from both teams that included a weather delay, RU held their energy for the full 60 minutes with four unanswered goals in the final 15 minutes of action to solidify their names in history as NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Champions.

Reinhardt struck first in the 2024 championship match after a minute and 10 seconds of action as Mia Griswold found space in front of the net for the quick release shot and goal giving the Eagles a 1-0 advantage early. It wasn't long after that RU tallied their second of the game, this time Kelsey Sowa added her 28th goal of the season. Sydney Robinson got the Blue Devils on the board five minutes into the opening quarter while they still trailed the Eagles 2-1. RU answered right back with a goal from Griswold for her second of the match after Shelby O'Neil won the draw control. Hannah Huebner cut the Reinhardt lead to just one with 6:20 as the sun and the heat of Savannah, Georgia switched and the rain began to fall. Lawrence Tech knotted the match up with 4:23 to play in the first as Jaisanna Jarvis took the free position shot and put it away for just her second of the season. After a minute of play, players, fans, and officials were asked to leave the stadium as we entered a lighting delay tied at 3-3. After the 30-minute weather delay tied at 3-3, the Eagles came out firing as they broke the tie to lead by one, then by two, 5-3 a minute after the restart. The Blue Devils battled in the crease with under a minute to play, as they drew the margin back to one with the Alaina Smythe goal and 57 seconds to play in the first quarter. After the first quarter, both RU and LTU were fairly even as only one stat vastly separated the two teams with draw controls in favor of the Eagles 9-1.

Reinhardt again opened the scoring in the second quarter as O'Neil found Anna-Marie Gazzo in front of the net at point-blank range to dump it top corner for the 6-4 lead with 13:19 to play in the half. Hannah Huebner drew the margin back to within one goal with 11:59 to play as Sydney Robinson connected with her through the defense and the Blue Devils' fifth goal of the game. The Eagles looked to push their lead back to two, but the quick shot from Mello was a little too high and bounced off the crossbar, keeping the margin at 6-5 RU with 10:32 to play in the half. Madison Hasty made the big stop just moments later as Smythe was unable to find the back of the net. The Eagles continued to push the pace and set up of the offensive side of the field which proved to work in the first half, as Lawna Henry scored her fourth of the season to give RU the 7-5 lead with 8:28 to play in the second quarter. Mello had a great look on goal with just over six minutes to play, but the post was once again in the way as she bounced her second shot off the upright. Lawrence Tech began to gain some momentum late in the second quarter as Robinson connected with Smythe for the man-up goal to tighten the margin at 8-6. Reinhardt answered back with a draw-control win and goal just a minute later to place them back ahead of the Blue Devils by three with 2:30 to play in the second quarter. As teams headed to the locker room for halftime, the Eagles began to separate themselves from LTU; the Eagles held an advantage in shots (17-10), shots on goal (13-9), and draw controls (14-4) while they were in command 10-6.

Lawrence Tech came out to start the second half with the first strike as the Blue Devils worked the ball around the goal until Smythe threaded the needle to Huebner to make it a three-goal game. The Eagles needed just 33 seconds of game time to answer back as O'Neil cashed in on her 46th goal of the season to push the margin back to four. LTU continued to battle and keep the margin close in the third quarter of play from Memorial Stadium as Robinson ran the field and snuck a low corner shot past the RU goalkeeper to bring them back within three. Anabelle Acluche for the Blue Devils made the big save with 8:59 to play in the third quarter, which she was able to help push LTU forward quickly as Huebner and Robinson connected to slice the deficit back to 11-9. In the final 2:37 of the third quarter, Reinhardt continued to push the offense to hold a three or four-goal game, as the Eagles lead 13-9 as the fourth quarter of the 2024 NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship Red Banner was on the line.

The fourth and final quarter of the NAIA Women's Lacrosse Championship Match went  in favor of the Eagles for the full 15 minutes. Reinhardt opened the quarter with a pair of goals in a minute and 50 seconds of play, as they pushed their advantage to 15-9. RU had another strong offensive stand that lasted over three minutes and grew their lead to 18-9 with 4:54 to play in the game. Lawrence Tech continued to look for opportunities through the final quarter; the limited opportunities the Blue Devils had in the final quarter, they connected on one shot with 2:20 to play in the game.

Overall, Reinhardt proved why they were the top seed this year, even against the defending national champions; outshooting LTU 32-20, 27-17 in shots on goal, 22-9 on draw controls, and 48.3% on clears with nine caused turnovers.

NAIA All-Tournament Team:

MVP - Shelby O'Neil

-Jillian Mello

-Anna Marie Gazzo

-Angela Sciacchitano

 https://naia.prestosports.com/sports/wlax/2023-24/Releases/Champions