WINGATE, N.C. - The Lander Women's Lacrosse team held a two-goal lead late in the match against the 12th-ranked Wingate Bulldogs but the defending South Atlantic Conference champions responded and tied the match and scored the game winner with 1:20 left to quash the Bearcats' upset hopes with a 15-14 win on Friday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium.
Lander falls to 0-1 to start the season while Wingate moves to 1-0.
Emmy Peterson (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) led the way offensively for Lander with four goals while Alyssa Suchan (Leduc, Alberta, Canada), Mickey Burnett (Baltimore, Md.), and Kasey Bronco (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) added a hat trick each. Ella Benson (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) also cracked the scoresheet as well.
Defensively, Autumn Huskey (Clover, S.C.) recorded four caused turnovers, picked up four ground balls, and grabbed four draw controls. Izzy Olson (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) also picked up four draws as well.
The first quarter was rough for the Bearcats as the Blue and Gold committed eight turnovers and were outshot 10-2 but three saves from Kara Krusbe (Jupiter, Fla.) kept the score only at 4-1 after 15 minutes.
Despite going a man-down on multiple occasions, Lander opened the second quarter on a 3-0 run with two goals from Peterson and one from Burnett to tie the game at four a piece.
Wingate responded with two quick goals but another Burnett goal off an Olson assist saw Lander only trailing by one at the half.
Both teams alternated goals twice to start the third quarter, but Lander broke that trend as after Bronco cut the lead back to one at 8-7, Lander was given an extra-man opportunity on which they capitalized with a Suchan goal to tie the game at 8-8.Â
Lander had several opportunities to take the lead but turned the ball over on three straight possessions and Krusbe made a save to keep the game tied. Then with just over 90 seconds left, Burnett found Bronco to give Lander their first lead of the game at 9-8 heading into the final frame.
Both teams were held scoreless for the first five minutes of the fourth until Wingate tied the game at nine off a free-position. Lander then rattled off back to back goals from Suchan and Bronco to make it 11-9, Bearcats.
However, the Bulldogs answered right back with three straight goals to give them the lead back at 13-12.Â
Burnett and Suchan answered back for Lander to give the Bearcats a 14-13 lead with just over three minutes to go but the Bulldogs tied the game less than a minute later and then found the eventual game-winner with 80 seconds to go to give them the win.
Lander hits the road once again on Wednesday as they travel up Highway 34 to take on the Newberry Wolves. First draw is set for 4:00 PM at Setzler Field.
