WISE, Va. (April 26) – The Wheeling Jesuit University women's lacrosse team was dealt a 22-14 loss at UVa-Wise Friday afternoon at Smith Stadium in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) contest.
 
The Cardinals fall to 6-3 in the MEC standings, 10-6 overall. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers become the only team to sweep WJU this season and improve to 10-6 overall, 8-1 in league play.
 
Reigning MEC Offensive Player of the Week Mackenzie Kaderabek (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) led the Cardinals with six goals in the loss. Both senior Kate Calder (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) and sophomore Paige Orbell (Severn, Md./Old Mill) each added three goals, while senior Ally Coggins (Mt. Airy, Md./Linganore) dished out a team-high four assists.
 
WJU scored the game's first goal in the first two minutes, but Wise responded with three-straight to take the lead 10 minutes into the game.
 
The two squads traded goals, before two goals within a minute by Calder and Kaderabek tied the game at 5-5 with 12:20 to play in the first half. The goals started a 4-1 spurt by the Cardinals that saw a goal by junior Sarah Artzer (Littleton, Colo./Thunder Ridge) give WJU a 7-6 lead with 9:30 left until halftime.
 
Wise closed the half strong with six-straight goals that allowed the hosts to open up a 12-7 lead at the three-minute mark of the first half, before a Kaderabek goal in the final minute closed the gap to four entering halftime.
 
The Cardinals managed to draw back within three twice in the second half, including at 17-14 with 10 minutes to play in the game. The Cavaliers once again closed the period out strong, netting the game's final five goals to secure the win.
 
UVa-Wise out-shot the Cardinals 45 to 31 and won 25 out of the 38 draw controls.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Stair (Westminster, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) made 13 saves in the loss.
 
The Cardinals close out the regular-season on Sunday, April 28 when they travel to the capital city to take on Charleston at 1 p.m.