MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Flagler College women's lacrosse team used a seven-goal run in the second and third quarters to defeat the University of Montevallo, 18-14, in a Gulf South Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at the UM Lacrosse Stadium.
Flagler finishes its first regular season at 10-7 overall, while owning a 4-2 record in the GSC. Montevallo falls to 5-11 and 1-5 in conference play. It was not an easy road to 10 wins for the young program. Eight of those games were against teams who either were ranked, or receiving votes in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association polls.
"Double digit wins are a heck of an accomplishment for a first-year program," head coach
Grant Kelam said. "We played a grueling schedule that really tested the resolve of this team, as well as our ability to bounce back and keep improving each week.
"This group has faced a lot of challenges, and I'm extremely proud of each and every one of them. There is not a player on this roster who has not contributed to our success"
It was competitive for the majority of the first half, with the Falcons maintaining the lead until the final two minutes of the first half.
Madison Daziel tied the game at 6 apiece with 2:18 left on the clock. She gave the Saints their first lead since 3-1 in the first quarter. The Falcons were handed a yellow card with 40 seconds left and
Kate Piscopo found the back of the net with seven second left to send Flagler into the halftime break with a two-goal lead, 8-6.
Kelam's team came out of halftime firing on all cylinders, outscoring the Falcons 7-2 in the third quarter. Piscopo scored 58 seconds into the quarter to set the tone for what was to come. The Saints scored three more goals before Montevallo got one in the back of the net, but Flagler responded with three of the final four goals of the quarter.
Montevallo had a late offensive surge in the fourth quarter, but it would not be enough to overcome the third quarter attack that Flagler launched.
Piscopo finished with five goals, the most she has scored since the Saints inaugural game, while Daziel added four.
Katelyn Trainor and
Sydney Onega each recorded their second hat tricks of the season.
Defensively, the Saints caused six of the Falcons' 13 turnovers. Trainor was just as productive defensively, causing two of the six. The team won 20 draw controls with
Amanda Fernandez and Onega each corralling a season-high four of those.
Flagler now prepares to make its debut in the Gulf South Conference Lacrosse Championships as the No. 3 seed. They will have a rematch with Lee University next Friday, April 29th at 4 p.m. The tournament is hosted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville at Charger Park.
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