Waleska, GA – The top-seed and 2
nd-ranked Patriots women's lacrosse team utilized a balanced attack and stifling defense to defeat 4
th-seed and (RV) Georgetown 20-4 in the AAC Semifinals Friday afternoon at Ken White Field. With the win Cumberlands improves to 18-1 overall and advances to the AAC Championship game Saturday.
UC had five players tally at least five points in the victory.
Anna Lobbezoo led the way with five goals and an assist, while
Ashlee Baker and
Allison Joines tallied five points each. Baker dished out three assists in the win giving her 64 for the season, which broke the program record.
Christina Carter added four goals, an assist, five draw controls and three caused turnovers, while
Emma Rittman notched four goals and five ground balls.
Mikayla Kimsey made five saves in the win, while
Koral Hadac tallied a team-high four caused turnovers.
The Patriots struck first as
Christina Carter netted a goal on the first possession, while
Mikayla Kimsey made a save and a ground ball to give UC the 1-0 lead.
Emma Rittman added an unassisted goal before
Ashlee Baker converted a free position goal extending the lead to 3-0 with 9:00 remaining. Kimsey added a pair of save before Rittman made a strong dodge before putting a well-place shot under the crossbar making it 4-1 as UC took the that lead into the second quarter.
After trading possessions to open the second quarter,
Allison Joines found a cutting Carter for a goal extending the lead to 5-2 with 10:30 remaining. Cumberlands extended their lead a few minutes later as
Lenora DeVries tallies a caused turnover and, on the transition, Joines put a well-placed shot into the cage for a goal. On the next Patriot possession Baker found a cutting
Anna Lobbezoo, who showed good footwork and scored extending UC's lead to 7-2. In the closing minute of the half, Joines utilized good stickwork before planting a shot into the cage giving the Pats an 8-3 lead at the break.
Georgetown struck first in the third quarter, however, Carter scooped a pair of draw controls with goals from Lobbezoo and Rittman extends the lead to 10-4 with 12:55 remaining. The two teams traded possession as Kimsey notched a save keeping Cumberlands in front with 7:45 left. On the next UC possession DeVries found a cutting Joines for a goal giving the Patriots an 11-4 lead. Carter nets her fourth goal with 2:44 remaining as UC took a 12-4 advantage. In the closing minute of the period Baker found Lobbezoo for a goal, before netter a goal of her own making it 14-4. That assist is Baker's 63
rd of the season making her the program leader.
The Patriots continued their stellar play in the fourth quarter netted four straight goals, capped off by Baker connecting with DeVries to make it 18-4 with 5:52 remaining. Lobbezoo added a goal and an assist in the closing minutes of the game for the 20-4 final.
Cumberlands advances to the AAC Tournament Championship game against the winner of #2 Reinhardt vs. #3 Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday, April 25 at 12 p.m. in Waleska, GA. Live video is available
here.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter - @UC_Patriots, Instagram - @UCPatriots, YouTube – Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
