Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania women's lacrosse team used a team effort to win a high scoring affair over the North Central Cardinals at Pat Deacon Stadium on Monday, by a final score of 18-14.
The Pioneers came out rolling and quickly built a substantial lead. Abbey Peterson scored just 15 seconds into the evening, and less than three minutes later, took a pass from Ysa Leon to strike twice. Diana Bruder buried one 40 seconds later, and the Pioneers lead 3-0 by the 11:26 mark. Leon added another goal to the run just 13 seconds after, to make it 4-0, not even five minutes into the contest. Mandi Rider notched one on an assist from Peterson, and Peterson completed the first quarter hat trick shortly after to make it 6-0 Transy. North Central found the back of the net twice in the final three minutes of the quarter, to make it a 6-2 score after one.
Transylvania had another great start to the second quarter, as Rider struck on a free possession opportunity, and Charlotte Green tallied one on a player up advantage, giving the Pios an 8-2 advantage. The Cardinals then found a run of their own, with three unanswered goals to cut into the deficit, making it 8-5. With just under five minutes in the half, Peterson scored her fourth of the half. Transylvania led 9-5 at the midway point.
Yet again to start the third, Transy jumped out in control. Rider completed the hat trick just 31 seconds into the second half, and less than a minute later, Vianne Koshoffer scored on a nice bouncing shot to give the Pios an 11-5 lead. After the Cardinals notched one, Lindy Walker responded with a goal to regain the six-goal lead. North Central found a rhythm and cut the lead in half with three straight tallies of their own, making it 12-9. However, two more from Green, and another from Bruder erased the Cardinal rally. The Cardinals scored their tenth of the game to make it 15-10, but Green answered yet again to make it 16-10 Transy going into the fourth. The tally marked Green's fourth on the night.
After three straight quarters where Transylvania took command right away, in the fourth it was the Cardinals who took charge with three straight goals to cut into the deficit at 16-13 Pioneers. As the clock winded down, Bruder scored on a slick pass from Koshoffer, and Abbey Peterson walked in on a free possession shot and beat the goaltender for her fifth of the night, to make the score 18-13. The Cardinals scored a late one but the clock hit zero and Transylvania took the game 18-14.
Transylvania's 18 goals on the night are the most they've scored so far this season, off of an impressive attacking performance of 29 total shots on goal. The Pios walked away from this game with 4 total hat tricks coming from Rider and Bruder who both had 3, Green who had four, and Peterson with 5.
The Pioneers look ahead to their two straight road games to finish the week, on Wednesday March 16 at Capital University, and Sunday March 20 at Rhodes College. They return home on Wednesday March 23, to host Allegheny College at Pat Deacon Stadium with a 7:00 PM scheduled start.
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