Goals by Caity Hamilton and Riann Daziel 45 seconds apart early in the second half put nationally 12th-ranked University of Mount Olive ahead to stay as the Trojans rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne University 9-5 in non-conference women's lacrosse Wednesday at Hickory, N.C. Daziel scored three of her five goals in the second half to help the Trojans outscore the Bears 6-1 in the final 30 minutes.
After Mount Olive (2-0) fell behind 2-0, Daziel evened the score with a pair of free position goals. Lenoir-Rhyne (0-1) used goals by Torrey Schwitkis and Emily Kessler to build the margin back to two goals, but Claire Wigler scored with 8:39 remaining to pull the Trojans within 4-3 at halftime.
Lenoir-Rhyne goalkeeper Ines Flueck stopped a Trojan free position shot attempt with 25:57 left to play, but the Trojans recaptured the ball and Hamilton's goal tied the game. Alysha Kulka then found Daziel 45 seconds later to give Mount Olive its first lead of the contest. Kulka followed with a goal of her own and after a Lenoir-Rhyne goal midway through the half pulled the Bears within 6-5, Daziel scored two more goals to give the Trojans some breathing room. A cross-check penalty against Lenoir-Rhyne late in the game gave Mount Olive a player advantage and Brittany Barron capitalize to complete the scoring.
Trojan goalkeeper Hannah Knight finished with six saves and after Lenoir-Rhyne recorded nine shots in the first half, Mount Olive's defense held the Bears without a shot attempt more than 13 minutes into the second half. Three of Lenoir-Rhyne's second-half shots came in the final two minutes of the contest. The Trojans outshot the Bears 30-14 for the game.
Mount Olive resumes Conference Carolinas action Saturday as the Trojans travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to take on Converse. Mount Olive is 1-0 in conference play after opening the season with a 20-1 victory over North Greenville this past Saturday at Amon Field. Game time is 4 p.m.