GREENWOOD – Hosting the No. 3 team in the country in an early Saturday start, the Lander women's lacrosse team took a narrow 12-11 defeat to Florida Southern at Van Taylor Stadium.
The Bearcats (6-2) were playing their first home game in 13 days and had won a program-record six straight coming into the contest. The Mocs improved to 6-0 with the result.
Brooke Kelly's four-goal effort led Lander's offense, and
Izzy Olson added three scores of her own as each tallied four points.
Ella Benson,
Mickey Burnett,
Amelia McCauley and
Sophie Warren all contributed a goal apiece.
Kaia Morey had a sterling defensive showing with four caused turnovers and three ground balls.
Kelly got things started 3:14 into the game as she took advantage of a woman-up situation to give Lander the early lead. Burnett made it 2-0 at the 4:52 mark of the first which was followed by a six-plus minute scoring drought for both teams.
The Mocs brought the score to 2-1 by the end of the opening quarter.
Lander came out on fire in the second quarter and converted four consecutive free-position attempts into goals. Olson scored 4:21 into the quarter and Kelly's second of the game increased the advantage to 4-1 with 9:32 left in the half.
Benson scored 34 seconds later, and Warren's goal handed Lander a 6-1 lead with 6:23 remaining; the Bearcats led 6-4 after 30 minutes.
A pair of Florida Southern goals evened the game at six in the early stages of the third quarter. Olson, though, scored two more free-position goals – and finished off her hat-trick – over the last 6:31 of the quarter to put the Blue and Gold ahead 8-7 heading into the fourth.
FSC took its first lead, 9-8, with 9:48 to go in the game, but Kelly tied it back up two minutes later before the Mocs added three straight scores.
McCauley scored with 1:14 left to keep the Bearcats' hopes alive. Kelly then brought Lander within one with 29 ticks left. FSC won the final draw control and kept possession the rest of the way and thwarted the late comeback attempt.
The Bearcats will get a little break from game action before returning to Van Taylor Stadium next Saturday (March 15) for another 11 a.m. start versus Slippery Rock.
