LEXINGTON, VA- The Transylvania Women's Lacrosse team's 2024 season would come to a close today in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers traveled to Lexington, Virginia for the 3rd straight year where the Pioneers faced off against Rhodes College for the second time this season. The Pioneers faced Rhodes College earlier in the season, falling short 7-24. In today's match up the Pioneers would lose again to Rhodes 9-22 this time around.

The Pioneers would have a successful season, finishing an even 8-8, while remaining undefeated 5-0 in HCLC play, earning HCLC regular season champion honors. This would be the 5th year in a row for the Pioneers winning the HCLC Tournament, this year defeating Anderson 19-4 in the Championship. This season Pioneers would win conference honors as Charlotte Green would be named offensive player of the year, and Macy Hobbs-Powell being named defensive player of the year. Additionally several Pioneers would earn all-conference honors.

In today's match up the Pioneers would start hot, scoring the first 2 goals of the game. Lula Thompson would have the first goal of the game as she would be the most impactful offensively. Thompson would finish the game with an impressive 3 goal hat trick (4th of the season), adding 1 ground ball, 2 caused turnovers, and 2 draw controls on the day. Scoring the Pioneers 2nd and 3rd goal would be TaNya Barbee; she would finish the day with just these two goals.

The Pioneers wouldn't be able to keep the pressure on Rhodes, seen in the clear game, the Pioneers could only complete 50% of their attempts, finishing with 24 turnovers compared to Rhodes 15. Jana Carlisle would have a huge first game back after an injury kept her out of the HCLC championship, keeping the Pioneers competitive with 17 total saves. This would be a new career high for Carlisle as she finished the season with 138 saves on the season. 

Defensively Diana Burder would have a team high 3 caused turnovers, she would add 4 draw controls, 4 ground balls, and 1 goal on the game. Charlotte Green would finish the game with an all encompassing state line of 2 goals, 2 ground balls, 1 caused turnovers, and 4 draw controls, finishing the season with 49 goals, and 22 assists. The Pioneers would finish the season as a team with 236 goals, and 109 assists, the best season in assists for the Pioneers since 2019. The Pioneers hung their hat defensively this season, finishing with a team total of 227 caused turnovers, this is the most in program history. 

After the game head coach Rechael Bragg had this to say wrapping up her season: "Losing is always a tough way to end a season, but this team played Rhodes better than we did in the regular season. They continued to push themselves and work together. We held them scoreless for the first 9 minutes of the game. Jana Carlisle was a huge reason we stayed in this game, she had her best game of the season. They improved all year round and I'm very proud of them!"

The Pioneers lose 4 Seniors this season, Transylvania would like to thank those student athletes for creating the culture and success this program has enjoyed under coach Bragg. Stay up to date on all Transylvania Athletics and Women's Lacrosse news at transysports.com