BELMONT, N.C. – The Cardinals women's lacrosse team used a second half comeback to outlast Belmont Abbey College, 14-13, on Friday afternoon.
The Cardinals trailed for the first time this season, 9-5 at the half. The Crusaders scored the first two goals of the second half, but the Cardinals were able to overcome the six-goal deficit and improve to 3-0 on the season.
"The team was upbeat at halftime. The score may not have reflected it, but we knew we had played a good half," said WJU head coach Tim Florence. "We knew it would take a tremendous effort to come back but they were up for the challenge."
Jessie Tufnell scored the first goal of the game off an assist by Markie Wright at 20:57 to give WJU a 1-0 lead. The Crusaders scored the next two goals before WJU tied the match, 2-2, off Tufnell's' second score.
Elizabeth Hales found the back of the net shortly after, and the Cardinals were in the lead, 3-2. Belmont Abbey tied the match once again before Tufnell scored her third goal of the half to regain the Cardinals advantage.
Belmont Abbey scored six of the last seven goals of the half, and they led 9-5 at the break. The lone Cardinal goal was credited to Tufnell, who tallied four in the first half.
The Crusaders struck first in the second half, and the lead was stretched to six goals, 11-5.
"Belmont Abbey scored the first two goals of the second half to go up by six, but the team didn't hang their heads. They dug in and prepared to continue to battle," Florence stressed.
WJU charted the next four scores, and trailed by just two. Mary Burns got the Cardinals scoring started in the second half.
"Mary (Burns) got the offense going with her man-up goal assisted by Jessie (Tufnell)," Florence added. "Just three goals later we were down by two, and the team knew we were right back in it."
Hales and Tufnell scored the next two Cardinal goals, while Taylor Booth completed the 4-0 Cardinal run.
Belmont Abbey answered with a score as they led 12-9, but WJU scored the next three goals. Hales was responsible for the first score, while Wright took ownership for the second two.
The Cardinals regained the advantage with 7:17 remaining off a Tufnell score, her sixth of the day. The Crusaders tied the game, but Hales had the game-winning score at 1:56 to secure the Cardinals victory.
Florence added, "What is great about this victory is to see the enjoyment on the girls faces and knowing that the hard work that they have put in for the year has paid off. I am super proud of these girls."
Tufnell finished with six scores, while Hales added four. Wright notched her two scores, while Booth and Burns rounded out the Cardinals attack. Kori Hickman tallied a team-high five assists, while Plesich handed out three helpers. Tufnell and Wright each recorded one assist.
Holly Deckert secured five groundballs, while four Cardinals scooped up three apiece. Plesich, Olivia Krock, Brianna Wahle, and Lyndsay Carpenter combined for 12 groundballs. Burns grabbed one, while Hickman, Tufnell and Taylor Quigg each secured one.
WJU completes its spring trip Sunday, March 6 with a 1 p.m. showdown with Wingate University.
