HARROGATE, TENN. – The Lincoln Memorial women's lacrosse team faced off against a ranked Limestone squad, and gave them all they could handle before ultimately falling to the Saints 16-8.
 
Limestone jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the first quarter before LMU got on the board late in the period courtesy of an Ali Van Der Ziel goal, off of an assist from Avery Van Der Ziel. The Saints would add another early in the second quarter, but the Lady Railsplitters got it back, as Avery scored an unassisted goal. Limestone would add two more before the half to lead 8-1 at the break.
 
Melanie Cascio got the scoring started in the second half, as she netted her tenth goal of the season off a pass from Sophia Gardea. Limestone answered back with two more to close out the third quarter and led by seven with 15 minutes to play.
 
Ali Van Der Ziel tallied her second goal of the game to cut into the deficit, as she was assisted by Jaedyn Ryba. The Saints responded with three straight, before Avery Van Der Ziel ended the run with a goal off a free position attempt. Avery then followed that up with another goal, giving her the hat trick for the game, with this goal off a pass from Ryba. Limestone followed with two more goals to take a 10-goal lead. Ali Van Der Ziel then recorded a hat trick herself as she scored an unassisted goal. Melanie Cascio recorded her second goal of the game shortly after, this one on a free position attempt. The comeback fell short as the Saints defense held the rest of the way to take it 16-8.
 
Ali and Avery Van Der Ziel both recorded hat tricks, while Cascio had two goals. Jaedyn Ryba had two assists and Avery and Sophia Gardea each had one.
 
Elle Miller made a career-high 12 saves in net and Keegan Gillman made four saves as well. Delaney Duck caused four turnovers and fielded five groundballs and Cascio forced two turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Railsplitters head to the Great Lakes State this Tuesday, as they take on the Panthers of Davenport at 3:30 PM. LMU is next at home on April 9th against Queens.
 
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.