SWANNANOA, N.C.— The Montreat women's lacrosse team wrapped up its season-opening road trip on Tuesday with a showdown versus the Warren Wilson College Owls. Playing just down in the road in Swannanoa, N.C., the Cavaliers couldn't keep up with the hosts' early offensive flurry, ultimately falling by a 19-10 scoreline. With the defeat, Montreat dropped to 0-3 overall.
Warren Wilson (3-2) notched the contest's initial four goals.
Grace Wiegand answered back with a pair of her own, pulling the visitors to within 4-2 midway through the quarter; however, the Owls registered four of the ensuing five strikes to reestablish their edge.
Marley Smith and
Ruthann Stout got onto the scoresheet during the opening frame, but WWC owned an 8-4 advantage through 15 minutes.
Wiegand and Smith canceled out a pair of Owls' strikes, keeping the Cavs' deficit at four goals with less than six minutes remaining in the first half. Unfortunately for Montreat, Warren Wilson didn't let up. Five additional tallies across the final 5:34 put the hosts in the driver's seat heading into the intermission, 15-6.
Continuing its momentum from the opening half, WWC expanded its edge up to 17-6 merely 2:47 into the third period. Wiegand tried to slice into the gap with her fourth goal of the day at the 8:20 mark, but the Owls responded with a player-up goal, keeping the lead at 11 (18-7) with a quarter to play.
A Wiegand strike and two Smith tallies concluded the visitors' scoring on Tuesday. Warren Wilson tacked on a goal for good measure in the final minutes, capping off a 19-10 triumph. The victory marked WWC's first over the Cavaliers in program history.
Montreat committed fewer turnovers than its counterpart (15-13), but the home side led the way in draw controls (21-10), free-position goals (5-3), ground balls (9-7), shots (38-27) and shots on goal (26-18).
Wiegand registered five goals and an assist, while Smith found the back on the net on four occasions. Stout scored the Cavs' other goal.
Mallory Franklin and
Anna White each recorded a helper in the defeat.
Tayah Quinn made seven saves across 60 minutes in net.
Montreat opens its home slate on Friday with a nonconference matchup against Warner University. Opening draw control is set for 5 p.m. at Pulliam Stadium in Black Mountain, N.C.
