Women’s Lacrosse – Game Preview – Cardinals Look to Capture Back-to-Back MEC Titles

By: Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Wheeling Jesuit looks to capture its second straight MEC regular season title.

Women's Lacrosse | 4/26/2017 10:47:00 AM

WHEELING, W.Va. – A win Friday at the Charleston Golden Eagles would clinch back-to-back regular season Mountain East Conference titles for the Wheeling Jesuit women's' lacrosse team.

The Cardinals currently sit at 4-0 within MEC play and have a 10-0 record over the past two seasons of league play.

Sunday's game notes:
Wheeling Jesuit (7-7, 4-0 MEC) enters the weekend winners of its last four matches by a combined score of 60-30. The Cardinals remain unblemished in the MEC and look to complete their second consecutive unbeaten regular season within conference.

Elizabeth Hales and Taylor Quigg were honored as the MEC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week on Monday. Hales surpassed former WJU standout Jessie Tufnell for the all-time lead in points (314) with her 12-point week. Hales is now nominated for the Hero Sports Lacrosse Player of the Week for the second time this season. Quigg led the Cardinal defense with six ground balls, six caused turnovers, and a pair of draw controls on the week.

Charleston is in the second year of having a NCAA Division II recognized women's lacrosse team. The Golden Eagles (3-10, 0-3 MEC) have dropped their last four matches by a combined score of 30-52.

2016 meeting:
The Cardinals took last year's meeting 21-2 from the Golden Eagles. WJU managed to tack on the first three goals of the match, including a score from Olivia Krock and Taylor Booth, before Charleston added a goal at the 25-minute mark. Wheeling Jesuit, however, rattled off 18-straight scores before Charleston claimed the match's final goal to complete the 21-2 score.

Hales shot and scored three times while also dishing out three assists. Kori Hickman added six points by way of five assists and a goal. Markie Wright scored two goals while Paige Plesich and Mary Burns each finished with a goal and an assist to their credit. Nine other Cardinals scored in the match.

WJU Stat leaders:
Hales remains atop the Cardinal stat list with 62 points, 37 goals, and 25 assists. Hickman ranks second with 17 goals, 23 assists, and 40 points. Plesich and Burns remained deadlocked at 22 points apiece. Krock and Wright are tied with 12 while Lyndsay Carpenter and Ally Coggins add 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Carpenter leads the defense with 43 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers. Holly Deckert scored her first goal of the season last Sunday and ranks second in ground balls (31) and caused turnovers (20). Quigg, the reigning MEC Defensive Player of the Week, adds 25 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers to the WJU total. Brianna Wahle has recorded 11 caused turnovers and scooped up 18 ground balls. Goalkeeper Maire Austin has stopped 96 shots and picked up 24 ground balls.

University of Charleston Stat leaders:
Aryanna Jones leads UC with 33 goals and six assists for 39 points. Samantha Jones has scored 24 times and handed out two helpers for her 26 points. Megan Sheesley adds 19 goals and three assists to the Golden Eagles total.

On the defensive side of the field, Jones leads the way with 34 ground balls and 33 draw controls. Abby McGowan comes in with 23 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Rachel Cokeley has stopped 76 shots on the season.

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