A Thriller at Ken White Field for Women’s Lacrosse

David Finney

Waleska, GA - Thursday night was set up for a thriller as the Eagles welcomed the undefeated Ravens of Benedictine College (KS) to Waleska. Both teams have had great starts to their seasons and both teams came to battle. The Eagles were coming off a big win on Monday evening where they put up 22 points on Siena Heights, however, there was a feeling that this game would be much more competitive.

Benedictine would get things going early jumping out to an early 3-0 first-quarter lead.  The Eagles would bounce right back when Macy Fulton and Morgan McGhee each scored getting the Eagles back to within one. Benedictine was able to put one more away and then Reinhardt answered right back to tie the game at 4 all. Mia Griswold and Anna-Marie Gazzo would each score a goal to get the tie at the end of the first quarter, 4-4.

The game would go through several ties and slight lead changes by each team through the second quarter, but Benedictine would take a two-point lead into the half, 8-6. No lead was safe in this game and just when you thought one team might break out with a large lead - the other team would come right back to tie it.

After the halftime lead by the Ravens, Reinhardt was finally able to tie the game at 10 with about five minutes left in the third quarter. Kelsey Sowa's goal tied the game and then Morgan McGhee would tie the game again at 11 all to end the third quarter.  Neither team was willing to give up on this game and the fourth quarter was set up to be one of the greats at Reinhardt.

In the fourth, Anna-Marie Gazzo would get two of her four goals to keep pace with the Ravens' scoring. Gazzo's second goal of the fourth quarter put the Eagles up by one goal, 14-13 and there was a feeling that this might be the game-winner. Benedictine was ready to go home just yet and they put one in the goal with about three minutes left in the game.

After the Benedictine goal, it felt like the game might be headed to overtime, but Reinhardt used the most of the final thirty seconds of the game. They received the ball after a foul call and they went the length of the field. Alyssa Klinger worked her way around to the right side of the goal and found Shelby O'Neil crossing in front of the goal. O'Neil was able to smash a shot by Ravens' keeper and the stadium irrupted with excitement. The Eagles would walk away with the win against a very talented and skilled team from Benedictine. Final score, 15-14 Eagles.

This game had a playoff atmosphere around it and these are the ones you want to be involved in as a player. Games like these prepare you for what you will see when the conference tournament rolls around.

Anna-Marie Gazzo would have a standout game scoring 4 goals to lead the Eagles in scoring. Morgan McGhee and Macy Fulton would have three goals each. McGhee would lead the team in assists with 4 and she also had 6 ground balls. Jessie Landers would have a busy night in goal with Benedictine's attack - but she did great saving 14 on 33 shots.

The Eagles will have the weekend off and they will be back for a conference home game against Brenau on Wednesday, March 16th.