Defense led Ashland University's women's lacrosse team to an 11-10 victory over Davenport on Sunday (Feb. 25) afternoon at Ferguson Field, giving the Eagles a second consecutive victory and a 2-1 record in the early 2024 season.
The Panthers are 1-1.
Each team scored just one goal in the fourth quarter – with Ashland's being the eventual game-winner when sophomore midfielder
Ashley Fisher found the back of the net with a little more than three minutes left in the contest.
"As we talk about a lot, defensive stops fuel momentum," said Ashland head coach
Lauren Simko. "Those defensive stops that we had in the fourth quarter were the reason we came out on top today."
After that, both senior defender
Alexis Montalvo and fifth-year attacker
Cassady Becker took ground balls away from Davenport to clinch the victory.
"It felt really good," Montalvo said. "I'm just so happy that my defenders were communicating. Without (senior defender)
Kaylee (Cavendish) saying switch, I wouldn't have been there."
The razor-thin margin on Sunday carried out throughout the contest – the score was tied 3-3 after one quarter and 6-6 at halftime, and the Eagles led 10-9 going into the final period.
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- Both Fisher and sophomore attacker Rachel Crumbacher ended with three goals and an assist for a team-high four points.
- Freshman goalkeeper Ainsley Witte improved to 2-0 after making nine saves in the victory.
- "She's looking better and better every game," Simko said.
- Ashland out-shot Davenport by a 34-23 margin.
UP NEXT
Ashland will finish the stretch of four straight home games to begin 2024 on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at 4 p.m. against Lock Haven (0-0).
