WALESKA, Ga.— In a high-scoring affair against the Truett McConnell University Bears in the first round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament, the Montreat women's lacrosse team downed the Bears 25-22 to collect the initial postseason win in the team's history. With the historic victory, the Cavaliers also notched their 10^th win of the season, moving to 10-6 on the year.
 
Truett McConnell (2-9) stormed out to a four-goal edge to start the game, outscoring the Cavs 6-2 in the contest's opening seven minutes. Following the onslaught from the Bears, Montreat settled into the matchup and went on a run of its own by producing five of the ensuing seven goals to draw within one (8-7) through the first quarter.
 
Kate Gauntlett registered a hat trick over a span of 1:59, while Aleea Bone and Dovie Yates each scored with under 15 seconds left in the frame to cap off the 15-goal period.
 
A nearly as high-scoring second quarter saw the Cavaliers jump ahead as Montreat went on a 7-2 stretch in the middle of the frame. Six different players tallied a goal over the run, while Yates and Mina Hicks capped off a quarter in which the Cavs outscored the Bears 9-5 to lead 16-13 at the break.
 
In a crucial third period, Montreat once again shined offensively, leading by as many as seven to keep Truett McConnell at bay. Gauntlett, who tied the program-record for goals in a game with 10, grabbed another three tallies in the opening five minutes of the third separated by a Jarboe goal to put the Cavaliers up 20-13 with 9:54 remaining in the quarter.
 
The teams traded scores for the rest of the period as Gauntlett, Yates and Bone recorded goals to make it 24-17 with 15 minutes to play. Bone scored her fourth goal of the competition just 11 seconds into the final quarter to give the Cavs their largest advantage of the day (25-17). Despite five late goals from TMU to end the contest, Montreat held on in the highest-scoring game of the season to win by three.
 
Defensively, Carlie Henning made several key stops down the stretch to keep the Cavaliers in front. The Dawsonville, Ga. native finished with 14 saves in net.
 
Six players had multiple goals on the afternoon, led by Gauntlett's massive double-digit output. The transfer from Arizona State added four assists to go with her 10 goals, marking the most points by a player in a single game in program history (14). Bone and Yates each registered four scores and the latter picked up two helpers. Hicks totaled three points (2g, 1a), as did Jarboe (3g), while Izzy Knight recorded two goals.
 
Knight led all players with 11 draw controls and Bone contributed with five. Knight and Bone were each credited with 11 ground balls to captain all athletes in the category.
 
Women's lacrosse now takes on the top seed, SCAD Savannah, in the tournament semifinal round Friday at 11:00 a.m.