There was a lot working against Ashland University's women's lacrosse team on Thursday (April 6) vs. Findlay at Ferguson Field:
- The Eagles were 0-4 all-time against the Oilers entering the game.
- Last season, Ashland lost three times to Findlay – all after having a lead at some point. One of those losses was at home after leading 7-0.
- And the Eagles trailed on Thursday by a 9-4 count late in the third quarter.
Ashland, however, rallied in the face of all of that, going on a 7-1 run and topping the Oilers, 11-10, to pull into a second-place tie with Findlay in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference standings. The Eagles are 6-6 overall and 2-1 in the league after a fourth win in the last five games, and the Oilers are 5-7, 2-1.
With 2:39 left in the game, senior attacker
Cassady Becker scored her fourth and final goal of the game to put Ashland ahead 11-10. Becker then got the win-clinching ground ball in the final minute after an Oilers turnover, allowing the Eagles to run out the clock.
NOTABLES
- Sophomore attacker Camryn English recorded her second straight six-point game on Thursday, finishing with two goals and four assists.
- Becker ended with four goals, freshman Rachel Crumbacher had a goal and two assists, and fifth-year midfielder Natalie Sonntag posted two goals and an assist. Sonntag now has 100 career goals at Ashland, three away from tying for the most in program history.
- Senior goalkeeper Jillian Rekulak made seven saves in the victory.
- Ashland led 29-22 in shots on Thursday, and forced 18 turnovers.
QUOTABLES
- "Just the confidence, and just knowing we can do it," said Ashland head coach Lauren Simko, "knowing that we can play with these teams. We started off slow, we were very intimidated. Once we got out of our way, good things started to happen."
- "She is a huge team player," Simko said of Becker. "And if there's somebody that lights the fire under our team right now, it is Cass Becker."
- Becker said, "It's really good feeling to have. This is a really good and big win for us."
- Simko said of English, "She has come a very long way. She's getting confident in her ability and finding her niche. She's really brought a lot to the table the last couple games."
- "It was the best experience I've had at Ashland," English said. "It's just surreal."
- "That defense played phenomenal," Simko said. "They couldn't have done a better job. They didn't put their heads down. They did what they needed to do."
- Added Becker, "I think our defense at the end held them. They got the stops. We grinded in the fourth quarter, and that's how we won that game."
UP NEXT
Ashland's next game will be Saturday (April 8) at noon at Tiffin (5-7, 1-2).
