Eagles Fly Past Bears in AAC Opener, 22-6

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Truett McConnell (Ga.) Sports Information

CLEVELAND, Ga. – Women's lacrosse logged its first win of 2021 on Wednesday night as it traveled to Truett McConnell (Ga.) and opened Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play with a commanding 22-6 victory over the Bears on their home field.

No. 6 Reinhardt (1-1, 1-0 AAC) rebounded nicely from its season-opening defeat in Waleska to now-No. 2 Keiser (Fla.) by exploding to 15 goals in the first 30 minutes of action to roll to victory.

"We got back on the winning track against a well-coached team that fought to the buzzer," head coach Roy Reynolds said. "We also had a milestone moment when Caroline Copenhaver scored her 100^th career goal."

The hometown team was off and running just 33 seconds into the matchup as Brook Villhauer found the back of the net off a nice feed from Alyssa Klinger. Over the next six minutes, the Eagles would add a half-dozen more tallies and bolt out to a 7-0 advantage with 23:09 still left before halftime.

Truett McConnell would then get on the board twice in the next three tallies and pull within 8-2 following a free shot. Reinhardt would respond – and in a big way – as it went on another massive run (7-0) to essentially put the outcome out of reach following a 15-2 cushion with 6:01 remaining in the opening period.

The Bears would get one back right before halftime, and score two of the next three moving into the second half, but they couldn't make any real dent in their deficit as the visitors won the final 30 minutes by the count of 7-3.

Freshman Shelby O'Neil was unstoppable in her first road game in a Reinhardt uniform as she led the team in scoring with six goals. Four additional teammates connected on a trio of shots apiece as well.

Morgan McGhee, who had three goals, was out-front in ground balls with six.

As a team, the Eagles forced 24 Truett McConnell miscues.

Reinhardt will look for back-to-back AAC triumphs on Friday evening when it takes on Tennessee Wesleyan.

Opening whistle inside Ken White Field at University Stadium is set for 6 p.m. 

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