Women's Lacrosse Falls At Lenoir-Rhyne 11-10 In Overtime

Women's Lacrosse Falls At Lenoir-Rhyne 11-10 In Overtime

University of Mount Olive led by as many as four goals in the second half and Candace Corkin scored the first goal of overtime, but Lenoir-Rhyne rallied to defeat the Trojans 11-10 in triple overtime in non-conference women's lacrosse Sunday at Hickory, N.C. Corkin and Michelle Fortier combined for seven of Mount Olive's 10 goals, while Trojan goalkeeper Hannah Knight shattered her own school record with 17 saves.

Mount Olive (9-4) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first 12 1/2 minutes as Corkin and Fortier each scored two goals. The two teams exchanged goals the remainder of the half as Lenoir-Rhyne drew within 6-3 at the break.

Corkin's goal less than two minutes into the second half pushed Mount Olive's lead back to four goals. Lenoir-Rhyne (9-6) used a pair of goals by Lauren Donovan to close the gap to 7-5 with 16:40 left in regulation. Donovan also scored the Bears' first two goals of the contest.

Michelle Scannell answered with a goal for Mount Olive three minutes later and both teams were held scoreless until Katie McGovern's goal gave the Trojans a 9-5 advantage with 5:21 remaining. The Trojans would not score again in regulation.

Lenoir-Rhyne cut Mount Olive's lead in half as Kirsten Smith scored with 4:03 left and Claire Wach scored the first of her four goals with 2:38 remaining. Knight recorded a save on Wach's free position shot with just over two minutes left, but Wacha came back with her second goal to pull the Bears within 9-8 with 55 seconds left in regulation.

Knight made another save on a Lenoir-Rhyne free position shot with 21 seconds left to give the Trojans a chance to keep possession for the rest of the game. But the Bears' Laura Parker caused a turnover and after two Trojans fouls, Wach scored a free position goal with three seconds left to force overtime.

After neither team scored in the first overtime, Corkin gave Mount Olive an 11-10 lead off an assist by Fortier with 51 seconds left in the second overtime. Donovan evened the score with 23 seconds to force a sudden death third overtime.

Mount Olive came up empty on its lone shot attempt of the third overtime and a Trojan foul led to a free position shot by Wach, who ended the game with 1:22 remaining. Wacha and Donovan combined for 10 of the Bears' 11 goals.

Corkin finished with four goals for Mount Olive, while Fortier added three goals.

Mount Olive resumes Conference Carolinas action Saturday evening as the Trojans play host to Lees-McRae. Game time is 7 p.m. at Amon Field.