HARROGATE, TENN. – Playing in their first home game in over 1,000 days, the Lincoln Memorial women's lacrosse team showed absolutely no jitters in a dominating win over North Greenville. The Lady Railsplitters offense started strong and never cooled down en route to a 15-8.
 
"I'm very proud of the team. The win was a great way to celebrate our first home game in over 1,000 days," said head coach Alyssa Shaver. "It was also a great way to open up play on our new turf field."
 
LMU scored the first two goals of the game as Avery Van Der Ziel struck first off an assist from her sister Ali, then Chandler Bell scored in a man-down situation off an assist from Avery. The Crusaders would get one back, but the Lady Railsplitters responded with three straight goals. Ali Van Der Ziel got the run started by scoring unassisted, then Sierra Landsman scored twice in a row to push the lead to 5-1. North Greenville scored in the final minutes of the first quarter to cut into the deficit, but LMU still held a three-goal lead after 15 minutes of play.
 
The Crusaders scored early in the second period on a man-up opportunity, but LMU responded right back as Kelly Csenar scored off an assist from Chandler Bell, then Ali Van Der Ziel netted an unassisted goal. NGU would score again, before Avery Van Der Ziel scored her second goal of the game, this one off an assist from Melanie Cascio, then Jaedyn Ryba followed that up 30 seconds later with a goal of her own. The Crusaders would go on a run and score three straight goals, but Avery Van Der Ziel stopped that run by scoring her third goal of the game, again off an assist from Ali, and LMU closed out the half up 10-7.
 
The second half was all LMU. They outscored the Crusaders 5-1 over the final 30 minutes of play. Sierra Landsman secured her hat trick early in the third quarter off an assist from Csenar, and then Melanie Cascio scored in a man-up opportunity to push the lead up to five goals. The scoring continued into the fourth quarter as Csenar scored her second goal of the game, this one off an assist from Ali Van Der Ziel. That goal was followed by unassisted goals from Chandler Bell and Sophia Gardea. NGU got one back late in the half, but it was too late, and the Lady Railsplitters secured the victory in their first home game since 2019.
 
In goal Elle Miller picked up the win, saving seven shots and picking up seven ground balls. The defense caused nine turnovers, led by Delaney Duck, Cascio, and Sierra Landsman each causing two. Offensively, Landsman and Avery Van Der Ziel both recorded hat tricks, while Chandler Bell, Kelly Csenar, and Ali Van Der Ziel each scored twice. Melanie Cascio, Jaedyn Ryba, and Sophia Gardea each netted one goal apiece. Ali Van Der Ziel assisted on three goals, and Bell, Cascio, Csenar, and Ali Van Der Ziel each assisted on one apiece.
 

UP NEXT
LMU stays at home all of next week, as they welcome in Lees-McRae on Tuesday at 2 PM. Then they play Asbury on Saturday. The game is scheduled for 1 PM.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter lacrosse throughout the 2021-22 season.