BREVARD, N.C. -- The women's lacrosse team resumed action during their spring break, heading up to Brevard to face off against the Tornadoes on Friday afternoon. A hectic game from start to finish, the Quakers fought back from a two-goal deficit to win, 9-8.
Guilford snaps their two-game losing streak and advances to 2-3, while Brevard drops to 2-3.
Zenna Carson (Blacksburg, Va.) had a fine day at net, making 11 saves while only allowing eight from Brevard. Opposing netminder Kyla Smith-Fondall had one more save than Carson did, but allowed one more goal.
For the Quakers, Riley Gravley (Greensboro, N.C.) had the best performance of her young collegiate career, scoring four to help propel Guilford to the win. Kylie Horn (Fairfax, Va.) and freshman Sam Keene (Greensboro, N.C.) each netted two scores of their own. Maggie Hartnett (Hebron, Maine) dished two assists, and added a goal.
On the opposite end, Xan Hill matched Gravely's scoring total, also adding an assist to her performance. Emily Denaga contributed three scores.
The Quakers quickly got things underway in Brevard with an opening goal from Gravley after a successful clear. The Tornados settled in after, with nothing budging either way. More than halfway through the period, the home team equalized after causing a turnover just a few seconds prior. The contest moved along without any scores, with saves and errors aplenty between the teams. With time ticking down towards the end of the stanza. Hartnett found Horn for Guilford's second goal, and was almost canceled out, if not for a clutch save from Carson to keep the score at 2-1.
GC tried their best to keep their foot on the gas, constantly keeping pressure on the opposing netminder through the opening minutes of the second. Like Brevard's first score, an untimely turnover from the Quakers quickly led to their second, as the clock went below ten minutes. Penalties began to trouble Guilford later on, and BC took the man advantage to take the lead off a free position shot. GC got their payback on essentially a buzzer beater, using their own man advantage, Harnett getting her name on the scoreboard, tying the game up at two heading into halftime.
The scoring threat Horn was at it once more to begin third quarter action, using a Brevard turnover to take the lead for the Quakers after Maggie dished her the crucial pass. Fouls troubled GC another time, as the Tornadoes scored twice in quick succession to retake the lead a few minutes later, 5-4. The ensuing offensive possessions from Guilford were unsuccessful, and after a turnover and ground ball pickup, Brevard took a two-goal advantage heading down the stretch in this period. Guilford fought valiantly, replying back just over a minute later with Keene netting the ball beyond the keeper. The freshman made her presence aware, as she scored her second in as many minutes, tying this high-scoring affair at 6-6 as the final stanza approached.
Free position opportunities were the name as the final period started, the Quakers retook the lead once more with a foul opportunity. Gravely found her second, and the visitors went up 7-6. Sloppy play from the Tornados eventually led to another penalty, and GC continued their fine afternoon with a man advantage, Gravely achieved her hat-trick and put the Quakers up by two. A few minutes later, the freshman scored her fourth, as Guilford began to put the contest away, up 9-6. Brevard was not out just yet, netting their seventh on a man advantage with little game to play. An eighth goal from the Tornadoes made the contest very hectic with under a minute to go, but the Quakers defense held strong, and triumphed, 9-8.
The month-long road trip finally concludes for the women's lacrosse squad, returning home to Armfield Athletic Center for a weekend contest against Warren Wilson. First faceoff on Saturday, March 16 is set for 2:00 p.m.
