The most successful season in the brief history of Ashland University women's lacrosse came to an end on Thursday (May 8) night in Indianapolis, Ind., as the Eagles lost 17-12 to No. 13-ranked Regis in the first round of the NCAA Division II postseason.
Ashland finishes with a 14-6 record, with a program mark for single-season wins and both Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and having won 11 of its last 13 games.
"Super proud of the way we played today," said Ashland head coach
Lauren Simko. "Regis, they just came out and played great. They have a lot of experience at this level and in this environment.
"I'm just so proud that we were able to come here and play on the bigger stage the way that we were able to."
The Rangers move on at 14-4.
After freshman midfielder
Tori Wanat scored the first goal in Eagle women's lacrosse NCAA postseason history in the game's first minute, Regis went out to a 7-4 lead with less than seven minutes to go until halftime.
The Eagles scored twice, but the Rangers then did the same right before halftime to go up 9-6 heading into the break.
Wanat scored twice to begin the second half and cut the AU deficit to a single goal at 9-8, but a weather delay stymied the momentum. Once play resumed, Regis scored four of the next five goals to go up 13-9 to end the third quarter.
Trailing 14-9 early in the final stanza, the Eagles scored three straight goals to significantly cut into the Rangers' advantage. Regis, however, tallied the game's last three goals to clinch the opening-round victory.
…AND THE REST OF THE STORY
- Wanat ended with five goals on Thursday, and sophomore attacker Ashley Drexler added a goal and two assists for three points.
- Junior goalkeeper Annie Duncan made six saves.
- Ashland out-shot Regis, 36-30, and had 16 turnovers to the Rangers' 22.
