HICKORY, N.C. – In their final road trip of the regular season, the Lincoln Memorial women's lacrosse team faced off against the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne in a critical SAC matchup. After falling behind early, the Lady Railsplitters fought back to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but couldn't complete the comeback as Lenoir-Rhyne scored late in the fourth quarter to win 16-13.
 
Sierra Landsman opened up the scoring just over 40 seconds into the game, putting one past the goalkeeper off a pass from Ali Van Der Ziel. The Bears responded with seven straight goals to take an early lead. Jaedyn Ryba ended the run with an unassisted goal early in the second period. LR scored once again, but LMU answered back with two goals, with Ryba scoring her second goal, this one off a pass from Breanna Booth, and Ali Van Der Ziel scoring the other one. The Bears scored three straight goals after the Lady Railsplitters run to go up by seven goals. Ali scored her second goal of the game, this one off a pass from Ryba. After a Lenoir-Rhyne goal, Avery Van Der Ziel ended the half with her first goal of the game, with Booth assisting on the goal. The Bears went into halftime with a 12-6 lead after 30 minutes of play.
 
LMU started the third quarter hot, opening with four straight goals to climb back into the game. Avery netted another goal, with her sister Ali assisting on the play. Ali then scored one of her own on a woman-up opportunity, with Melanie Cascio picking up the assist. Sydnee Saksa followed that up with an unassisted goal, before Ali Van Der Ziel ended the run with her fourth goal of the contest. LR netted their first goal of the second half to end the run, but Avery Van Der Ziel responded to tally a hat trick, as Ali again assisted on the play, and LMU cut their deficit down to two at the end of the third period.
 
Ali Van Der Ziel and Jaedyn Ryba both scored free position attempt goals to open the fourth quarter and tie the game at 13. The bears however, would answer back with three goals to end the game and take the 16-13 victory.
 
Ali Van Der Ziel finished the game with five goals and three assists, while Jaedyn Ryba and Avery Van Der Ziel both recorded hat tricks. Sydnee Saks and Sierra Landsman both scored once. Breanna Booth dished out two assists and Melanie Cascio and Ryba each had one.
 
Delaney Duck and Sophia Gardea both caused multiple Bears turnovers, while Lina Martinez, Duck, Ali Van Der Ziel, Kelly Csenar, and Gardea all fielded multiple groundballs. Elle Miller made four saves in net and Keegan Gilman recorded two saves.
 
 
UP NEXT
LMU returns home next Saturday for Senior Day against Newberry in the regular season finale.
 
How to Follow
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