VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – While scoring seven second half goals and limiting host Virginia Wesleyan to three, the Guilford women’s lacrosse team picked up its third win in the last four games, 15-13, at Virginia Beach, Va., on Saturday, April 24th.
Three Quakers (3-2, 3-2 ODAC) received a team-best six goals from Nia Gill, along with four goals from Alli Earwood and three from the stick of Audrey Helfenbein. Helfenbein also added three assists for the Quakers while Earwood and Kylie Horn added two each of their own.
Kersten Daneau (3-2) claimed her third win of the slate, making nine saves on 22 shots in the two-point win.
Virginia Wesleyan (2-12, 2-7 ODAC) established the tempo early, scoring seven of the first eight goals of the game, receiving three from Kayla Gush and Mikayla Szudera while Earwood notched the only goal in the first 15 minutes for the Quakers.
Helfenbein converted a pass from McCaine Brandt for the second Guilford goal of the game, but a third goal by Gush made for an 8-3 margin. Earwood, Grace Moore and Gill tallied the next three goals in succession for Guilford, which trimmed the margin to 9-5. After a strike by Helen Kennedy-Butler provided the Marlins with a 10-5 lead, Guilford used two strikes by Earwood to slice the lead to two before the end of the half.
Helfenbeing opened second half scoring and Gill drove home three straight to singlehandedly push Guilford in front 12-10 with just over 18 minutes left. The Marlins tied the game with back-to-back goals, but goals down the stretch by Gill, Helfenbein and Brandt pushed Guilford to the 15-13 win.
Guilford will now head to Lynchburg to face the Hornets in the opening round of the ODAC Tournament which is set for April 28th.