HARROGATE, TENN. – It may have been a rainy and windy day, but the weather did not slow down the Lincoln Memorial women's lacrosse team, as they put together their most dominating performance of the season, beating Lees-McRae 17-2 Tuesday Afternoon.
 
"I am really proud of the team today," said head coach Alyssa Shaver. "We came out aggressive and we competed hard one both the offensive and defensive ends of the field."
 
The first period belonged to the Lady Railsplitters as they put up five goals over the first 15 minutes of play. Ali Van Der Ziel got it started 39 seconds into the contest as she netted a goal off a pass from her sister Avery. Ali then returned the favor as she assisted on Avery's first goal of the game. Ali put another one past the goalkeeper to give her two goals in the first quarter. The Lady Railsplitters got their first power play opportunity and took advantage of that as Michaela Clark scored off an assist from Ali. Sophia Gardea then joined in on the fun, scoring with two seconds left on the clock to put LMU up 5-0 going into the second quarter.
 
The second quarter was more of the same, as Jamie Small scored just 21 seconds into the period off an assist from Melanie Cascio. Avery Van Der Ziel scored her second goal of the game shortly after, and then Chandler Bell scored in a man-up opportunity off a pass from Sierra Landsman. Kelly Csenar kept the offense rolling as she tallied a goal off a pass from Jolee Davis. Ali Van Der Ziel secured her hat trick off an unassisted goal to put LMU up 10-0. The Bobcats got one back, but Ali scored her fourth goal, and then Jaime Small got her second goal of the game, this one off an assist from Deadre Jackson, as the Lady Railsplitters led 12-1 at the half.
 
With LMU up by over 10 goals, it was a running clock for the entire second half. The only scoring of the third period was from Lincoln Memorial as both Avery Van Der Ziel and Jamie Small both got their hat tricks on unassisted goals late in the quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Blue and Gray got three straight unassisted goals, one each from Sierra Landsman, Kelly Csenar, and Ali Van Der Ziel. Lees-McRae got one back late in the quarter on a man-up opportunity, but that was as close as they would make it.
 
The defense from the Lady Railsplitters was tremendous all afternoon, as they caused 20 Bobcat turnovers, with Avery Van Der Ziel causing eight and Delaney Duck forcing four. Keegan Gillman and Elle Miller were good in net, combining to make four saves. LMU also picked up 28 groundballs, as Duck and Ana Carney both fielded four apiece.
 
On the offensive end, Ali Van Der Ziel finished the game with five goals and two assists, while Avery had three goals and one assists. Jamie Small also scored three times and Csenar netted two goals. Bell, Landsman, Clark, and Gardea all had one goal each. Cascio, Jackson, Landsman, and Davis all contributed with an assist.
 
UP NEXT
LMU continues their homestand as they face off against 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.