Claire Wigler's goal broke a 5-5 tie and triggered a run of eight unanswered goals as nationally 18th-ranked University of Mount Olive pulled away for a 16-7 victory over Catawba College in non-conference women's lacrosse Friday at Amon Field. The win improved Mount Olive to 9-0 this season in games in which the Trojans held their opponents under 10 goals. The Trojans' defense is ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense.
Mount Olive (9-2) built a 5-3 lead before Catawba came back with a pair of goals to tie the game with 5:37 left before halftime. Wigler eluded a defender and found her way in front of the crease for her second goal of the game 26 seconds later as the Trojans went ahead to stay.
Alyssa Fox caused a turnover on Catawba's next possession and Alysha Kulka scored with 3:37 remaining. Kristen McGovern raced from her defensive position after a Catawba foul and scored with 15 seconds left to give Mount Olive an 8-5 halftime lead.
Kulka, Riann Daziel and Katie McGovern all scored in a span of just over three minutes to extend the Trojans' lead to 11-5 with 22:10 left to play. Alexis Milus wheeled around from behind the goal to find Candace Corkin for a score, then capped Mount Olive's run with a goal of her own to give Mount Olive a 13-5 lead with 9:31 left.
Catawba (3-3) ended the Trojans' scoring run with a pair of goals 38 seconds apart by Nicolette Salay.
Daziel, Katie McGovern and Wigler led the Trojans with three goals apiece. Hannah Knight recorded three saves in goal for Mount Olive.
Salay shared game-high honors with three goals for Catawba. Indians goalkeeper Bethany Davis finished with 11 saves.
Mount Olive is idle until March 21 when the Trojans play host to Converse in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Game time is 2 p.m. at Amon Field.