MARIETTA, Ga.— In search of its first win of the 2024 season, the Montreat women's lacrosse team passed through Marietta, Ga. Tuesday night for a non-conference contest against the NAIA's fifth-ranked Life University Running Eagles. Despite a valiant fight, the Cavaliers couldn't keep up with their counterparts as they dropped a 22-7 final and fell to 0-2 on the year.
 
Montreat got off to a great start during a back-and-forth first quarter. Alex Chapman grabbed the game's opening draw control, an action that led to Kate Gauntlett setting up Hannah Jarboe for her initial goal of the season merely 38 seconds into the frame. Jarboe then won the ensuing draw control, and Madison Terrell doubled the Cavs' lead 18 seconds later.
 
Life (2-0) evened the score by the 7:41 mark, but Jarboe's second tally of the period reclaimed the lead for the visitors. While the Running Eagles then responded with three consecutive strikes to move in front 5-3, Gauntlett pulled Montreat within one thanks to her goal with just 12 seconds to spare in the quarter.
 
Terrell notched a free-position tally 38 seconds into the second, knotting the score at five goals apiece; however, LU controlled the remainder of the frame, depositing a trio of strikes into the Montreat net, including the final goal 24 seconds prior to halftime. As a result, the hosts entered the break on top, 8-5.
 
Jarboe and Terrell accrued two goals and an assist through 30 minutes of play, while Gauntlett contributed a goal and an assist of her own. The Cavaliers held a 9-6 edge in draw controls, and Ruthann Stout made four saves in net, but the Running Eagles committed four fewer turnovers (14-10) while holding advantages in shots (19-8), shots on goal (12-7) and ground balls (16-8).
 
Life began the third quarter with a free-position goal, but Gauntlett registered one of her own to bring the Montreat deficit back to three (9-6) less than three minutes into the frame. That score proved to be the hosts' lone blemish in the period as they rattled off the final six goals in the quarter, suddenly expanding their edge out to 15-6 with 15 minutes to go.
 
Eager to make up for their slow start, the Running Eagles poured in the initial five tallies of the fourth quarter, running their stretch of consecutive goals to 11 as they created a 20-6 lead. Jarboe ended Life's goal-scoring run with 2:58 remaining in regulation when she capped off her hat trick, but LU tacked on two final strikes across the closing 71 seconds to wrap up their 22-7 victory over the Cavs.
 
When the final buzzer sounded, Life held impactful advantages in shots (40-11), shots on goal (31-10), ground balls (26-11) and caused turnovers (24-14). Jarboe led the Cavaliers with three goals and an assist, while Terrell and Gauntlett each added a pair of goals and one assist. Gauntlett and McKinley Edmondson tied for a team-high three caused turnovers.
 
The Montreat women's lacrosse team hosts Webber International University in the squad's home opener this Thursday. Opening draw control is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.