Decatur, AL – The second-seed Cumberlands women's lacrosse team made key plays down the stretch as they knocked off seventh-seed Ave Maria 14-11 in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament Monday afternoon at Jack Allen Complex. With the win, the Patriots advance to the national semifinals and improves to 20-1 on the season.
Ashlee Baker led the way for UC with three goals and three assists in the game, while
Anna Lobbezoo tallied four points and four draw controls.
Kaitlyn Friel and
Emma Rittman each netted a pair of goals in the win.
Lenora DeVries notched four caused turnovers and three ground balls while
Koral Hadac scooped five draw controls to go along with a pair of caused turnovers.
Mikayla Kimsey made eight saves in the win.
Ave Maria jumped out to a 2-0 lead before
Christina Carter scooped a ground ball and on the transition found Baker for a goal cutting the deficit to 2-1. A minute later, Lobbezoo took advantage of a penalty netting a man-up goal to even the score 2-2 with 9:00 remaining. The two teams traded goals before DeVries made a strong dodge and finish putting UC in front 4-3 with 1:58 remaining. The Gyrenes netted back-to-back goals to take a 5-4 edge after the first quarter.
Baker opened the second quarter with a goal, before connecting with Rittman for a goal tying the game at 6-6 with 10:18 remaining. The two teams traded possession as UC's defense tallied pair of caused turnovers, while Kimsey added a save to keep the game tied. In the closing seconds of the half, Carter made a strong dodge and finish giving the Patriots a 7-6 lead at the break.
After Ave Maria tied the game to open the third quarter, Cumberlands responded with back-to-back goals from Lobbezoo and Rittman making it 9-7 midway through the period. Kimsey made a trio of saves in the quarter while Rittman found a cutting
Audrey Donaldson for a goal in the closing second of the quarter giving UC the 10-7 edge.
The Gyrenes scored twice in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to pull within one. UC responded as Kimsey notched a save and on the ensuing transition
Allison Joines connected with
Kaitlyn Friel for a goal extending the lead to 11-9 with 9:53 remaining. Joines and Friel each added a goal before Baker capped of Cumberlands run with an unassisted goal making it 14-9 with 5:31 remaining. The Gyrenes added a pair of late goals, however, Cumberlands earned the 14-11 victory.
Cumberlands advances to the NAIA National Semifinal where they will face the winner of #3 SCAD vs. #6 Marian. That game is set for Wednesday, May 13
th, at 8 p.m.
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