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Lynchburg, Va. – Kennesaw State women's lacrosse turned in an inspired performance on Saturday, as the shorthanded Owls scored a season-high tying 18 goals at first-place Liberty and played the Flames even in the second half in a 22-18 loss at the Liberty Lacrosse Field in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The 18 goals are the most ever scored by the Owls in the nine-game series between the two teams.
KEY PLAYERS: Senior co-captain had a career-high tying performance with nine points on the day, thanks to game-highs in both goals (five) and assists (four), while also adding six draw controls. She was one of four players to post a hat trick, as
Shannon Harrington scored four goals, while
Lavona Watkins and
Lexi Tinker both added three goals each.
THE RUNDOWN: Liberty took an early 4-1 lead nine minutes into the game. KSU responded though with three of the next five goals of the game, two of them coming from Angelo, to make it a 6-4 contest at the 10:59 mark of the second quarter. The Owls would then answer almost every Liberty run and kept the home team off the scoreboard for an eight-minute span in the second quarter while Watkins's score with 49 seconds left make it a 9-7 score. Liberty would score twice in just 10 seconds tough to take an 11-7 halftime edge. In the third quarter, a 4-0 spurt put the Flames up 16-8 with 11:10 to play. Instead of folding, the Owls scored four goals over the next five minutes, from four different players, to make it a 16-12 contest. Another 4-0 Liberty run was answered by an identical 4-0 burst from the Owls in the fourth quarter, with Angelo's fourth goal brining KSU within 21-17 with four minutes left. Liberty was able to run off enough time to close out the four-goal win.
POSTGAME QUOTES – HEAD COACH LAURA MANESS
"I think it was a good team effort today. Alyssa had a great day while overall as a team we had great success converting on our 8-meter attempts. Defensively, as a unit caused several turnovers and recovered ground balls. These hustle plays kept us in a tight game, I am proud of the team wide-efforts."
NOTES
-KSU was outshot 31-26 for the game, but it was tied in the second half at 14-14. The Owls also finished with nine saves to eight for the Flames.
-The Owls stayed in the game thanks to a defensive that won the turnover battle, forcing 28 while committing 27. KSU also held a slight 28-27 edge in ground balls.
-Liberty did hold a key advantage in draw controls at 27-17.
NEXT UP: The Owls will close out the regular season on Friday, April 25, with a Senior Day contest at 12 p.m. against Coastal Carolina in Fifth Third Stadium.
