HARROGATE, TENN. – The game may have been delayed a couple of hours due to weather, but that didn't diminish the energy that the Lincoln Memorial women's lacrosse squad (7-1, 2-0) came out with versus Catawba. The Lady Railsplitters staged a second-half comeback to take down the Indians 8-6 to remain undefeated at home and in SAC play.
 
The first half was a defensive battle between the two teams, as only five goals were scored in the first 30 minutes of play. Catawba opened the scoring up with two straight goals, before Ali Van Der Ziel scored for the Lady Railsplitters to cut into the lead. The Indians got another midway through the second quarter, but LMU once again answered, this time off a goal from Jaedyn Ryba, as the Blue and Gray went into the break down 3-2.
 
Catawba got a goal early in the second half, but it was all LMU after that as they scored six straight goals through the third quarter and into the start of the fourth. Avery Van Der Ziel put one past the keeper off a pass from Breanna Booth, then Ali Van Der Ziel scored two straight unassisted goals to put the Lady Railsplitters in front for the first time all afternoon. Ali then recorded two assists, as she dished them out on goals from Ana Carney and Avery Van Der Ziel, as LMU took an 8-4 lead. Catawba would score twice late, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Railsplitter defense held strong and secured the two-goal victory.
 
Once again, Ali Van Der Ziel led the offense, this time she scored three times and had two assists. Avery Van Der Ziel also recorded a hat trick, while Ryba and Carney each scored once. Booth and Carney also recorded one assist apiece.
 
Defensively, both Elle Miller and Keegan Gillman were stellar in net, combining to save seven shots and lead the defense that caused 13 turnovers and held the Indians to their second lowest scoring output of the season. Sage Leax, Sierra Landsman, Delaney Duck, Carney, and Avery Van Der Ziel all caused two turnovers. Chandler Bell, Melanie Cascio, Duck, Landsman, both Van Der Ziels, and Jaedyn Ryba all recorded multiple groundballs on the afternoon.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Railsplitters head out on the road this Wednesday, the 16th, as they travel to Mars Hill to take on the Lions at 4 PM. LMU returns home this coming Saturday when they welcome in Limestone at 3 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.