Wins and records are beginning to pile up for Ashland University's women's lacrosse team.
The Eagles earned their fifth victory in the last seven games in an 18-15 decision against Tiffin on Sunday (April 10) afternoon at Ferguson Field. Ashland is 5-7 overall and 4-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, while the Dragons are 1-10, 1-3.
"We talk about progress a lot, and how we compare to them and Findlay last year, and what the difference was," said Ashland head coach
Lauren Simko. "They could see it on Friday (a 12-10 loss at Findlay), but for them to come away with the victory, I think now they can really feel things falling into place."
In the process of Sunday's win, junior midfielder
Cassady Becker set a new program standard with six assists in one game, and tied the program record with 10 points.
"It feels pretty good. I wouldn't be here without coach Simko or my teammates, though," Becker said.
Added Simko, "She played awesome. She fueled our attack."
WHAT HAPPENED
- Trailing 3-0 early, Ashland pulled even at 4-all with 4:44 left in the opening quarter, then went ahead 5-4 just 39 seconds later.
- "We talk about showing up. You've got to show up, and sometimes, we forget to show up for the first couple minutes," Simko said. "We are a rally team. We just start a little slow sometimes."
- The Eagles narrowly led 7-6 after the first 15 minutes, and had the same advantage, 10-9, at the half.
- After the Dragons knotted the game at 10-all early in the third quarter, Ashland scored four goals in a row to re-take the lead at the end of the stanza.
- While the Eagles took the lead, they kept the Dragons off the scoreboard for more than a quarter's worth of time, extending into the fourth and final period.
- "I really think we focused on talking more, and kept up the energy," said junior defender Tori Sharlow of the improved second-half defense. "We could see the energy flow."
- Junior midfielder Natalie Sonntag had five goals, Becker followed with four, and junior midfielder Madie Gash recorded a hat trick. Senior Cora Wilson, one of three Eagles honored in pre-game Senior Day ceremonies, had four helpers, as 12 of 18 AU tallies were assisted.
- Sophomore goalie Jillian Rekulak made five saves in the victory.
- The Eagles out-shot the Dragons by a 36-27 count, and Ashland forced 18 Dragons turnovers.
- In addition to Wilson, attacker Jordann Lopata and defender Madison Leccadone were AU's Senior Day honorees. All three started against the Dragons.
- "It was awesome," Simko said. "It's all come full-circle to see them lay the foundation for us, and to come away with a good confidence win on Senior Day, I think it was the best possible Senior Day that they could have had."
UP NEXT
Ashland's next game is Saturday (April 16) at noon at Ursuline (0-7, 0-4).
"We're uniting as a team. We're getting our team chemistry down," Sharlow said.
Said Becker, "We definitely happy with the way today ended."
AU
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