ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - - Host Flagler outscored UVA Wise 10-to-5 in the second half en route to a 14-12 non-conference NCAA Division II women's lacrosse victory Thursday.
DEFENSIVE START
The opening 15 minutes of the game featured just two goals, both scored by UVA Wise. Abby Stoffelen broke the ice with a free position goal with 50 seconds to play in the first quarter before assisting on a Sydney Trask goal with 30 seconds to play in the opening period.
OFFENSE GETS IN GEAR
After a slow first quarter offensively, both schools found the back of the net regularly in the second 15-minute session. The Cavaliers pushed the lead to 3-0 on a goal from Grace Golatt before back-to-back goals from the Saints' Carly LaFerrie and Sydney Onega cut the deficit to 3-2.
UVA Wise's Trask and Flagler's Kenzie Dillon traded goals to leave the score 4-3 with 5:19 to go in the half before the Cavs rattled off three straight goals to go in front 7-3. A goal by Ally Miller would get the Saints within three going to the second half.
SAINTS TAKE CHARGE
Flagler would outscore UVA Wise 5-to-3 in the third quarter as LaFerriere, Miller, Sophia DeSimone, Zoe Howe and Madison Daziel scored to make the score 10-9 in favor of the guests entering the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Saints thanks in large part to the offensive performance from Onega. Onega scored three straight goals in the quarter as part of a 4-0 scoring spurt for Flagler in the period to aid her squad to a 13-10 advantage.
The deficit would prove to be too much to overcome as Golatt and Daziel would swap goals for each side before an Anna Claire Watt goal with 28 seconds to play got UVA Wise within two at 14-12 and provided the final margin.
BOX SCORE NOTES
Trask and Onega tied for game-high goal honors with four each while Golatt and Daziel added three goals each for their schools.
Flagler was a perfect 26-for-26 on clear chances and won the groundball battle 41-to-22; the Saints won 12-of13 groundballs contested in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
The Cavs return to league play next Friday when Wingate visits Smith Stadium. First draw is slated for 2 p.m.
