HARROGATE, Tenn. – The LMU women's lacrosse team makes the short trip up the Powell Valley to face local rival UVa-Wise at Carl Smith Stadium Wednesday evening. First draw is set for 7 p.m.
LMU enters with a 5-3 overall record following their 14-6 win over Mt. St. Mary yesterday. A win Wednesday evening would tie the program record for wins in a season with last year's squad, who finished 6-9.
The Highland Cavaliers are currently 5-3 after falling at Queens 14-4 Sunday afternoon. Wise has six SAC schools on their schedule this year, five of them playing in Wise, and are currently 3-1 after defeating Catawba, Newberry and Tusculum before falling to Queens. After LMU, they will also host Mars Hill.
The top five scorers in both points and goals in UVa-Wise history are all playing on this year's squad. The duo of McKayla Grasham (21 goals – 21 points) and Kristin Gobbi (20 goals – 20 points) lead the way, joined by Jesse French (16 goals – 4 assists – 20 points), Rachel Cole (12 goals – 3 assists – 15 points), Hannah Marshall (9 goals – 5 assists – 14 points) and Sydney Steinberg (8 goals – 15 assists – 23 points). Melanie Reilly has been the Cavs' main goalie for the past four seasons and currently has 77 saves and a 12.72 goals against average on the season.
Marshall is the leading goal scorer in program history for the Cavs with 78 career goals, followed by Gobbi (74), Cole (71) and Grasham (69). Steinberg and Cole share career points leader honors as both have 106, with both going over the century mark in the same game when the Cavs played at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Marshall is also over the 100 point mark with 103, surpassing the century mark against Newberry.
LMU is led by
Amara Moss' 24 goals.
Casey Kelly has scored 23 goals, won 47 draws, and has 34 points. She reached the 100 point mark last week at Mars Hill.
Kennedy Buechner has 22 goals and nine assists for 31 points while
Erin DePaul has 18 goals, six assists and 24 points.
Zoe Zervos leads the team with 27 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers.
Shannon Novak is among the SAC leaders in goalie statistics as she ranks first in save percentage (50.7%), second in goals allowed (71), and wins (4), and fourth in goals against average (12.91).
As a team, the Lady Railsplitters lead the SAC in both shooting percentage (51.7%), shots on goal percentage (83.7), and goals against/allowed (94). They are second in goals per game (13.13), goals against average (11.75), and save percentage (49.5%).
Following Wednesday's game, LMU will return to South Atlantic Conference play when they play at Wingate Saturday.
