HARROGATE, Tenn. — In a season full of milestones, the Lincoln Memorial University women's lacrosse team established another on Tuesday, winning its first South Atlantic Conference tournament match in program history with a decisive 19-9 victory over Coker College at the LMU Lacrosse Complex.
 
By virtue of the win, LMU will advance to the semifinal round of the SAC Championship to face regular season runners-up Lenoir-Rhyne Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Wingate's Graham Gill Field.
 
The Lady Railsplitters (12-5) dominated the Cobras (6-9) from the opening minute, taking a 1-0 lead 33 seconds into the match on an Amara Moss goal. Erin DePaul made it 2-0 at the 26:39 mark before Coker's leading scorer, Faith Kent, scored twice to tie the score at the 22:40 mark.
 
From that point, LMU went on a six-goal scoring run to move the lead to 8-2. Kelly Csenar scored twice, while Moss, Kennedy Buechner, Casey Kelly and DePaul finished the run before Kent added a tally to make the score 9-3 with just over five minutes remaining in the half. Kelly, Rachel Gardner, Kelly again and Jasmin Click closed out the half around two Coker goals for a 12-5 halftime lead.
 
LMU opened the second half scoring the first seven goals to push the lead to 19-5 before Coker added the final four goals of the game for the 19-9 final.
 
The LMU defense smothered the Coker attack, not allowing the Cobras to transition from their own end of the field, regularly working the 90-second shot clock down below 50 seconds.
 
"In our scouting report their MO was to clear the ball through the goalie," Head Coach Caitlyn Corace said. "Some teams will have a player leave and jump the goalie, but we decided to have her hold it and make them work for the clear. We slowed them down and took them out of their rhythm."
 
Keeping Kent, the Cobras' 60-goal scorer, in check was a priority for the LMU defense.
 
"We did a great job on her and kept her in check," Corace said. "Especially in the draw circle where they changed up a lot. We were dominant there and I think that threw them off a little bit."
 
LMU's dominance in the draw circle was evident in the final stats with the Lady Railsplitters holding a 23-7 advantage in draw controls. Moss was the leader in that department with 10 followed by Kelly with nine.
 
The LMU offense caught fire again with seven players contributing to the score sheet. Kelly led the charge with four goals, while DePaul, Csenar, Gardner and Click had three goals each. Moss contributed two goals and Buechner had one.
 
"On offense I felt like we moved the ball very well today," Corace said. "With our motion and the way we move the ball I told the girls to look for opportunities. I don't care who it is, when we see an opportunity we have to capitalize."
 
With Coker out of the way, the focus now is on Lenoir-Rhyne and the semifinal game Friday. During the regular season, L-R took down LMU, 17-4, in Harrogate April 10. The game was the last of three in a 10-day span that included games against nationally-ranked Queens and UIndy.
 
"The playoffs are a different mindset," said Corace. "We have to stay focused and play our game. I do not think we did that when we played L-R earlier. We have learned from that experience and it was during that tough week. The girls were a little exhausted, but I think if we refocus for this game the result will be better."
 
Four seniors played their final game at the LMU Lacrosse Complex as Jasmin Click, Amara Moss, Casey Kelly and Melissa Saganich closed out their home careers with a win.
 
"I'm just so excited for them," Corace said. "They came here to compete and make some noise in the tournament and they deserve this milestone."